NAMI Douglas County KS

During our April 2026 Steering Committee meeting, Charlie brought up the need for more NAMI Douglas County Kansas t-shirts, so more people can wear them and help people learn about our support. And that got us talking about colors for shirts, messages for shirts, and messages on the back of shirts, where the person behind us can read some positive words.

After the meeting, I saw this on the Instagram of Beginning. It may or may not be a true story. I'm sharing it because I hope it will inspire some true stories of kindness and connections.

"Sometimes, all someone needs isn’t a conversation, a solution, or a grand gesture. It’s a tiny reminder that they exist… that they matter… that someone noticed them today."
https://www.instagram.com/p/DWljfrdk1GA/?hl=en&img_index=1

In a world that never sleeps… there are hearts that quietly break in the dark. This story isn’t about a grocery store. It’s about the invisible loneliness people carry every day — the kind that doesn’t scream, doesn’t show… but slowly silences a person from the inside. Sometimes, all someone needs isn’t a conversation, a solution, or a grand gesture. It’s a tiny reminder that they exist… that they matter… that someone noticed them today. A simple line on a receipt. A few human words. And suddenly, someone feels less alone. We underestimate how powerful small kindness can be. A smile. A sentence. A moment of acknowledgment. It can become the reason someone holds on for one more day. Because the truth is — you never really know who is fighting silently. You never know who hasn’t been seen in days… or weeks… or longer. So be gentle. Be kind. Be the reason someone feels human again. Sometimes, being seen is everything. And sometimes… it saves a life.🤍✨ Beautiful quotes via @story_plugs #KindnessMatters #BeTheReason #HumanConnection #YouMatter #SpreadLove

Join our friends of the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center at the 40th Annual Pioneer Celebration:
"For the past 40 years we have recognized individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to the mental health landscape in Douglas County. This year we are honored to host the University of Kansas Wind Ensemble.
Thursday, April 30, 2026
5:30pm - reception
6:00pm - program
10-minute intermission
6:50pm - concert"
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Free, with advance registration requested at the link on their event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/4736677143227281/

Send a message to learn more

Good news for our community from the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center!

Big news for our community 🎉

The Bert Nash Center has named Dr. Kirsten Watkins as its new CEO.

After eight months of steady leadership as Interim CEO, and more than 20 years in behavioral health care, Dr. Watkins becomes just the fourth CEO in the Bert Nash Center’s 75-year history. Her appointment marks an exciting new chapter as our organization continues to offer compassionate, high-quality behavioral health care across Douglas County.

Read the full story at the link in the comments and join us in congratulating Dr. Watkins!

From our friends at Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center
"Women's Mental Health" panel
Thursday, March 12 at 5:30pm
At the Community Health Facility, 200 Maine
2nd floor Community Room
Doors will open at 5 pm
Light refreshments will be provided
https://www.facebook.com/events/1621551058854925/

Send a message to learn more

"NAMI announces a $59 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Our staff, affiliates, and community are extremely grateful for this remarkable gift. This support will help strengthen our work and guide thoughtful, long-term impact, including the convening of a Blue Ribbon Committee to inform recommendations rooted in our mission and the needs of the communities we serve."
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https://www.nami.org/press-releases/nami-announces-59-million-gift-from-philanthropist-mackenzie-scott/

"The family expressed the 'urgent need to raise awareness for those struggling with mental health.'”
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We must reflect on the life and death of Omar Dominguez Gavilan and his grieving family and friends. And some of us may be able to contribute to the GoFundMe (link in comment) for this family.
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The full article:
"A Minnesota man who was shot and killed earlier this month by a City of Lawrence employee suffered from schizophrenia and was traveling to see his grandmother in Mexico at the time of his death, according to his family, who are calling his death a heartbreaking tragedy and urging a greater understanding of people suffering from mental illness.

Omar Dominguez Gavilan, of Buffalo, Minnesota, died Jan. 5 after he reportedly broke into City Hall and had an altercation with security personnel. Gavilan was in Lawrence because Kansas Highway Patrol troopers gave him a ride on Jan. 4 from the I-70 service area east of town to the Amtrak station a half mile from City Hall — after he said he had missed his bus. He had been behaving erratically at the service area, police said; they were asked to remove him, but they said they had no cause to arrest him.

Gavilan’s family has started a GoFundMe to raise $4,500 'to bring Omar home and have his funeral so he may rest in peace,' according to a social media post.

According to the GoFundMe page, Gavilan was a rapper and was known to many as 'The Almighty Bluenose.' A number of videos on social media show Gavilan doing freestyle raps.

'He was a loving brother, son, uncle, and friend,' the page says. 'Born in Minnesota on December 11th, Omar was only 28 years old when his life was tragically cut short on January 5th in Lawrence, Kansas. He was shot by a security guard while traveling to Mexico to visit our grandmother.'

The page, which is critical of Kansas authorities, says that Gavilan 'faced the challenges of schizophrenia with incredible strength and wisdom' and that he shared his experiences through his music, 'hoping to help others understand what he was going through.' The family expressed the 'urgent need to raise awareness for those struggling with mental health.'”

'Omar’s passing is a tragedy that has left our family heartbroken. He was deeply loved by his mother Lucy, father Eliseo, youngest brother Antonio, oldest sister Alondra, and especially his niece Ivana Luna Gavilan, whom he protected and loved as his own daughter,' the post said.

Lawrence police have said that Gavilan did not have a firearm on him when he was shot and killed. The city employee responsible for the shooting has been placed on administrative leave per protocol. Law enforcement is preparing an investigative report, including video of the incident, for the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office, which will determine in coming weeks whether any charges will be filed."
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Minnesota man killed at Lawrence City Hall was on his way to Mexico, suffered from schizophrenia, family says A Minnesota man who was shot and killed earlier this month by a City of Lawrence employee suffered from schizophrenia and was traveling to see his grandmother in Mexico at the time of his death, according to his family, who are calling his death a heartbreaking tragedy and urging a greater understan...

Really great reminder from County Mental Health Center. Be gentle with yourself.

As the year comes to a close, it’s easy to feel pressure to reflect, reset, or rush into big plans.

Here’s your reminder for this : you don’t need everything figured out. Growth doesn’t happen all at once—it happens one step at a time.

Wherever you are right now is okay. You’re doing great. 💛

Shared from Love Local Lawrence group page,
post by Hopkinson of Minds Matter, LLC
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Good Evening Friends!
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I’m not sure how familiar everyone is with the local non profit organization called POPS (Peers Offering Peer Support). It is a community resource located at 311 E. 9th St. as a place for fellowship, support, and classes for adults with mental health challenges. It has been operating in our community since 2021.
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There is a wonderful woman named Darlene who manages POPS. She has been paying the bills and buying supplies out of her own pocket since it opened even though she is on a paltry fixed income. As of late, though, it has been harder and harder for Darlene to cover the expenses.
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As a result, we are asking for donations of the following items:
Ground Coffee
Sugar
Creamer
Toilet Paper
Tissues
Paper Towels
Plastic utensils
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If anyone is interested in donating cash or items not listed, please reach out to Darlene at POPS (785-917-1311). Otherwise, POPS is open Tu-Fr (8-4) and you are welcome to drop off donations anytime during those hours. If it is more convienant, feel free to reach out to me to arrange pickup.
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If you are not in a position to donate anything, we still encourage you to come by for some fellowship.

🏳️‍⚧️ 🏳️‍⚧️
Each year on November 20
About TDOR:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender_Day_of_Remembrance

We honor the lives lost to anti-trans violence — and stand with the trans community in the fight for safety, respect, and accessible mental health support.

Here are some NAMI resources for people in the trans community:

- Hope Starts With Us: Pride & LGBTQ+ Mental Health: nami.org/HSWU-PrideAndLGBTQ

- Identity & Cultural Dimensions: LGBTQ+: nami.org/lgbtq

- NAMI Blog: Using Our Voice to Protect the Mental Health of the LGBTQ+ Community: nami.org/blog-usingourvoice

- NAMI HelpLine Knowledge Article: Are there any mental health resources specifically for the LGBTQI community? nami.org/helpline-lgbtqresources-english | nami.org/helpline-lgbtqresources-espanol

- NAMI HelpLine Knowledge Article: How can I find an LGBTQI-affirming mental health provider? English: nami.org/helpline-lgbtqaffirming-english | Español: nami.org/helpline-lgbtqaffirming-spanish

"Douglas County commissioners at their Wednesday meeting will consider approving a proposed charter for the new group, the Douglas County Crisis Response Coalition. The charter envisions the group working in partnership with county and municipal leadership to give advice and recommendations on how to best respond to behavioral health crisis situations."
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County commissioners to consider charter for group seeking to improve crisis care in area Lawrence’s police chief and the county’s director of behavioral health projects are serving as co-chairs of a new countywide group that seeks to provide better care to people in crisis. Douglas County commissioners at their Wednesday meeting will consider approving a proposed charter for the new...

From Inc on Tuesday, November 25:

One more session this month!