PLEASE SEE BELOW LETTER* from DR. Xavier Amador, who has written a wonderful letter of support for Dj Jaffe and the "Focus on Serious Mental Illness" ticket running for the national NAMI Board of Directors. Dr. Amador's letter includes a suggested way for casting your vote by email. All of our families know about Dr. Amador's book "I am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help." It is like a bible to many of us who tried the LEAP approach along with attending NAMI support group meetings and Family to Family classes in order to prevent our loved ones from suffering and being forced into jail cells or coffins. I have also included a link to Lauren Rettagliata's speech offering her heartfelt testimony and personal reasons for running for the NAMI Board of Directors. I will share other speeches in upcoming updates. Please follow Dr. Amador's thoughtful direction and vote now. Thank you all for all you do, Teresa *Dr. Amador's letter: "Dear Friends, LEAP Followers and Supporters: I very rarely (if ever) ask a favor in this forum, but I am asking you now (Please read on and feel free to post and forward the attached letter). I am writing to strongly encourage you to support DJ Jaffe and the FOCUS ON SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS Ticket for the Board of Directors at NAMI. There are many ways to do this whether or not you are currently a NAMI member. I am asking you this favor not only because he is making much wider access to LEAP a part of the platform. I do this because I have known DJ for 25 years and know that his expertise, heart, and advocacy is unfailing in its focus on helping people like my brother and the millions with severe and persistent mental illness--especially those with anosognosia. Anosognosia plays a major role in his just released book INSANE CONSEQUENCES: HOW THE MENTAL HEALTH INDUSTRY FAILS THE MENTALLY ILL, which I have given my highest recommendation. As you know, expanded education about anosognosia and its consequences is sorely needed. For this reason, I hope you will not only support DJ’s desire to serve on the Board of Directors of NAMI but also read this important book. HOW CAN YOU HELP? If you are an affiliate in a position to vote I hope you will vote for DJ and the Focus on Serious Mental Illness ticket. But you don't have to be a NAMI member or voting member to help. Here's how: I’ve made it easy for you. Please write a very brief email (or longer if you prefer) to your local AFFILIATE-https://www.nami.org/Affiliate?state=CA and the state office of NAMI in support of his candidacy -- see FIND YOUR LOCAL NAMI for contact information for both your local (city) and state NAMI affiliate. I hope you will call or send an e-mail to both today as the election is very soon! Feel free to forward my email with a short note explaining that: "Like Dr. Amador, you too support DJ and the FOCUS ON SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS ticket." You know my love and support of NAMI--and the tremendous good I believe that it does---but NAMI needs to focus more on its roots: the needs of person's with serious mental illness. If you have questions about my support I hope you will contact me directly. I cannot recommend DJ Jaffe more strongly (and his book which should be widely read). He will bring to the board an open mind and strong convictions to improve access to treatment for our most vulnerable loved ones (and for professionals like myself, our most vulnerable patients who deserve recovery, not another relapse). Thank you for considering my request. We need DJ's experience, convictions and passion as we move forward to help our loved ones. All the best, Dr. Xavier Amador Past member, NAMI BOARD OF DIRECTORS"