Local Spotlight: NAMI

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NAMI started as several smaller organizations that shared the same mission: Improve quality of life for those dealing with mental illness. This mission is as foundational now as it was in 1979 when these smaller organizations came together to make a difference.

Today, the National Alliance on Mental Illness is the largest grassroots mental health organization. Through a broad spectrum offering of programs and resources, this organization is dedicated to serving persons living with mental illness. They aim to uplift these individuals and their families so they can maximize their potential in their lives and in their community.

While this organization plays a large role in providing resources to the residents of Michigan, their efforts span far beyond the borders of this state. NAMI operates more than 1,100 chapters across the country in every state.

No two individuals experience mental illness the same way, which is why NAMI provides a wide range of programs and resources for people to take advantage of. For starters, they offer detailed resources about many different mental illnesses.

This is a great resource for sharing with your family members and loved ones. Opening an honest line of communication about your daily reality is the first step to managing a mental illness.

They also offer a series of in-person programs that are a bit more structured. These volunteer-peer-led programs are designed to help the one in five Americans dealing with a mental illness accept their illness and create a positive plan for managing it. Some of the programs they offer include:

• NAMI Connection, a recovery support group where you can create relationships with peers.
• Family-to-Family Education Program, a 12-week course where families and caregivers can learn more about managing the severe mental illnesses of a loved one.
• NAMI Smarts, an interactive workshop that provides knowledge and guidance about effectively advocating for the mental health issues in your area.

NAMI is working hard to change the way we look and talk about mental illness. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram and see how they’re transforming Michigan’s dialogue around mental illness in the state and beyond!