National Alliance on Mental Illness

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the U.S’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. 1 in 5 adults experience a mental illness, and 1 in 6 youths experience a mental illness each year. NAMI offers support and education for those with mental illnesses.

NAMI offers education for families, ensuring that they get the information needed to excel. NAMI Basics offers training for caretakers of children, Family to Family provides training for families and friends affected by someone with mental illness, Homefront is for families of military service members, peer to peer is for adults with mental illness, and Provider is a class for mental health professionals.

NAMI helps to shape public policy by increasing funding for mental health research, as well as mental health treatments and services. NAMI has backed many federal bills pertaining to mental illness and encourages members to vote to be heard on mental health issues.

NAMI also plans various events that fight mental illness stigma and educate people about mental illness. NAMIWalks focus on raising funds and increasing awareness about mental health. The yearly NAMI National Convention focuses on subsets of the community that needs mental health advocacy, such as substance use disorders, breaking barriers of mental health in the black community, parenting for caregivers of youth, recovery support in a prison setting, and much more.