NAMI Gorge Seeks Physical Meeting Space For Mental Health Support Group
Barbara Telfer, NAMI facilitator visits us at the CCCNews office to raise awareness of mental health resources in our community. Photo: Cole Goodwin
By Cole Goodwin
The Dalles, Ore., February 2024 – NAMI Gorge, the local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness is looking for a physical location to host a monthly support group for family and friends of individuals struggling with mental illness.
NAMI facilitator Barbara Telfer says that the group is a safe haven for people looking for local support. But that their group has had less participation since they were forced to meet remotely on Zoom during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“People are really wanting that in-person connection point, especially because of the emotionally charged and sensitive nature of seeking and receiving support,” said Telfer.
“There is a serious need in our communities. When we were meeting in person we had people traveling from rural areas, two to three towns over to come to our group. Everybody knows someone who is struggling with mental illness,” said Telfer.
But who is NAMI Gorge exactly?
Several years ago, NAMI Gorge was founded by Susan Gabay, a local woman who lost her only child, Susanna Gabay, to suicide. In 2015, Susan and her husband worked to pass the Susanna Blake Gabay Bill in Oregon. And in 2021 Gabay donated $200,000 to The Dalles High School Health Center and has continues to support NAMI Gorge to this day despite having returned to live in her home state of New York. Gabay has said in the past that she hopes her advocacy will help provide family, friends, and parents to access the information and resources that she didn’t have when her child was struggling.
Today, NAMI Gorge is stewarded by three volunteers: Barbara Telfer, JoAnn Ward and Margie Stovall.
Together they strive to provide information about local and national resources, NAMI education opportunities, and practical prevention and mitigation support for family of people experiencing suicidal ideation, psychosis, and homelessness.
“In this group we come together and we can support each other because we’ve all been there in one way or another or we’re all going through it now,” shared Telfer. “People need a space where they don’t feel alone. In the group they can talk about things and seek guidance from people who understand and are supportive, which creates the space to heal.”
Barbara Telfer, NAMI Facilitator. Photo: Cole Goodwin
“This is why we are putting out a call to the community to help us find a meeting space,” said Telfer.
On top of finding a physical meeting space, NAMI Gorge hopes to one day host a peer-to-peer support group for those with mental health struggles and add a Spanish speaking facilitator.
In the meantime they invite family and friends of those struggling with mental illness to join their support group on zoom.
“If you’ve ever known anybody that’s hurting, having the knowledge and ability to provide some support and encouragement can really give you hope,” said Stovall.
Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month.
To donate to NAMI Gorge click here and select NAMI Gorge from recepient the options.
To volunteer donate, join, or get in contact with NAMI Gorge call 541-980-7264 or email Barbara Telfer at: booklovinbarbarian@gmail.com.
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