The recent shocking news of the tragic deaths of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle, has left many people feeling overwhelmed with worry regarding the mental health challenges of a loved one, especially with the arrival of the holidays, said a local helpline volunteer.
According to widespread media reports, the Reiners were killed by their son, Nick Reiner, who addressed some of his mental health struggles and past drug addiction in the semi-autobiographical film “Being Charlie.” In addition, unnamed sources are currently claiming that Nick Reiner was recently diagnosed with and being treated for a serious mental health condition.
Soheila Zarifi, a helpline volunteer for the San Fernando Valley chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), emphasized that nobody knows the details of this particular family’s situation, nor what led to the double homicide. But “a lot of people are feeling scared,” she said.
“For some people who have a family member dealing with mental illness, seeing this situation in the news has them feeling really concerned. Everybody is talking about it, saying, ‘How can a son do this to his parents?’” explained Zarifi, who has spoken with parents who have confided in her, saying, “My son or daughter has threatened me before – is he or she going to harm me?”
“These are the things many people are thinking and worrying about,” she said. In reply, Zarifi always suggests they seek information and assistance from organizations like NAMI, a peer-based mental health organization that provides free education and resources, and confidential support groups for individuals affected by mental illness and their families.
“Many people have kids who are addicted to drugs, and have mental illness, [such as] bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety or depression, and often people seem to get worse during holidays,” she said. “If they call somebody, like the NAMI warmline and talk to a volunteer who will listen to them – sometimes people just want to be listened to – it can make a big difference.”
Zarifi knows from her own firsthand experience how life-changing it can be to make the choice to ask for help, to take that first step to finally seek support. She first became involved with NAMI several years ago, because she had a loved one experiencing mental health issues and she didn’t know how to help or how to cope. She joined a support group for family members who were experiencing difficulties “with their spouses, their children, their grandchildren or with other loved ones,” she recalled.
“Then I took an eight-week class, Family-to-Family, that talks about all kinds of mental illness topics and all kinds of ways to deal with a loved one experiencing mental illness,” said Zarifi.
NAMI guided her on how to better understand and support her friend. It also helped her realize that she wasn’t alone; she discovered there are many others facing similar challenges, she said.
“It helped me tremendously. I was so stressed out, I was so scared. I didn’t know how to deal with my life, with my situation, with my loved one, and I was desperate,” Zarifi recounted. “That’s why … I’m volunteering now, and that’s why a lot of people at NAMI volunteer, because they’ve had personal experiences with loved ones in their own lives, and that’s why they know what they’re talking about and they can share their own feelings and their own experiences.”
How to Get Help
The NAMI Helpline for the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys is (818) 994-6747. Callers may speak with a NAMI representative or leave a message for a call back about: getting support for yourself or a loved one coping with mental illness; information on living well with a mental health diagnosis; family education classes; support groups; volunteer opportunities and more.
The NAMI Connect with Hope Warmline at (818) 208-1801 can assist individuals seeking nonemergency mental health support. Callers can speak with someone on the peer-run line about a difficult or stressful situation. The warmline is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
For urgent matters, contact the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Help Line, which is available around the clock, seven days per week, at 1-800-854-7771.
For crisis situations, people are urged to dial 9-8-8, 24 hours per day, seven days a week.
For information about NAMI’s in-person and virtual lectures, workshops and support groups (in both English and Spanish) in the San Fernando Valley, go to www.namisfv.org/calendar.
For information about available NAMI lectures, workshops and support groups in Burbank, Glendale and communities in the San Gabriel Valley, go to: www.namiglendale.org/calendar.
Jesus Christ is the only mental health you need.