Facilitator Training NAMI 101 NAMI National Alliance on

Facilitator Training NAMI 101

NAMI National Alliance on Mental Illness • Founded 1979 in Madison, Wisconsin • Incorporated in Missouri, now with headquarters in Arlington, Virginia • NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental health conditions

NAMI’s mission NAMI provides advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.

NAMI’s vision NAMI envisions a world where all persons affected by mental illness experience resiliency, recovery and wellness.

Central beliefs • Mental illnesses are illnesses like any other • Stigma is real and has terrible consequences • Both the individual and the family are essential to the recovery process • Education and support for families and people with mental illness make substantial differences in outcomes, recovery and resilience • With appropriate treatment and services, people can and do recover from mental illness

Peer education and support activities for individuals and family members

Support groups The NAMI Support Group model operates differently from other support groups, such as "share-and-care" groups.

The heart of NAMI Support Groups Sincere, uncritical acceptance

Public education and information activities • NAMI’s website: www. nami. org Receives more than 900, 000 visits per month • NAMI’s toll-free helpline: 800 -950 -6264 Responds to over 200, 000 calls, emails, social media and postal requests each year and is staffed by a dedicated team of volunteer associates

Public education and information activities • Mental Illness Awareness Week, the first week in October • National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, the month of July www. nami. org/nmmham • NAMI website and social media presence www. nami. org

Public Education and Information Activities

Advocacy NAMI advocates on the federal, state, and local levels on behalf of people living with mental health conditions.

NAMI Action Centers Multicultural networking groups: • African American • American Indian and Alaskan Native • Asian American and Pacific Islander • Latino • GLBT – Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender

NAMI Action Centers

How to contact NAMI • NAMI 3803 N. Fairfax Drive Suite 100 Arlington, VA 22203 • Phone: 703 -524 -7600 • Information Helpline: 800 -950 -6264 • NAMI Education Department: namieducation@nami. org