NAMI-Kansas City to close services helping people with mental illness

In a surprise announcement Monday, the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Greater Kansas City said it will be closing its doors this month, ending 36 years of helping people living with mental illness.

“They were the voice for the people who were lost, afraid and stuck,” said Robin Blakely, who is serving as the pro-bono interim director overseeing NAMI-KC’s closing.

Key people on NAMI-KC’s small staff have been coping with physical health problems, Blakely said. Those issues, combined with increasing strains on obtaining funding and the exhausting demand of mental health needs, prompted the decision to close.

“It’s a crisis situation for the mental health community in Kansas City,” Blakely said.

The program will need help, she said. First, it needs assistance from people who will help move furniture out of the offices this Saturday. And then NAMI-KC and the mental health community will be looking to see how other programs and services will absorb its support groups and other programming.

Everyone got the news “in real time” Monday afternoon, Blakely said. “We don’t have any answers yet.”

NAMI-KC provided a help line, classes for families and illness survivors, and as many as nine support groups throughout the area — and it was instrumental in launching and supporting the successful Crisis Intervention Team programming among police departments.

“This will leave a huge hole in the support system for this population,” said Kansas City Municipal Judge Joseph Locascio, who has been an advocate for mental health services.

“The deterioration of support systems in Kansas City for those with behavioral health illnesses can only lead to a bad result for everyone,” he said.

Kansas City Police Sgt. Sean Hess, who oversees the department’s Crisis Intervention Team, expressed his regret at the news.

“I’m deeply saddened on a professional and personal level to see such a great organization and true friend of CIT close,” he said. “Many citizens and law enforcement officers throughout the greater Kansas City area utilized NAMI-KC as a great resource for individuals and families in crisis situations.”

NAMI has a state chapter and a national organization that will help in the transition with some of the programming, Blakely said, but other providers will need to help fill the gaps.

The program had three staff members at the end — Guyla Stidmon, who was the director; Nikk Thompson, the CIT program coordinator; and Ken Dawn, the care coordinator.

NAMI-KC did not provide details on the physical illnesses of staff members that contributed to the decision to close, Blakely said.

The days ahead will be spent working on a succession plan to carry on services and to see that NAMI-KC’s “legacy is preserved,” she said.

Anyone who can help the agency move furniture may call 660-973-2723.

NAMI-KC also is planning a candlelight ceremony May 31 at a location to be determined.

This story was originally published May 16, 2016 at 4:41 PM with the headline "NAMI-Kansas City to close services helping people with mental illness."