There are so many things I could say about how this organization impacted my life.

NAMI saved my life. I learned early on that I had support from others, who never passed judgement, who helped me see that I was not alone, and that I could get better. I could overcome this illness. NAMI helped me by giving me the necessary skills to advocate for my own health and my own narrative. NAMI breathed life back into a broken and defeated soul. It took time to rebuild my own sense of self and confidence. Without the help of NAMI programs I would have learned to be ok being myself again. NAMI gave me the freedom to laugh, and live a more normal life. I never considered or even thought myself to have a sense of humor. Dry sense of humor at most. Since reconstructing my voice and losing the overwhelming guilt, I recovered. NAMI allowed me to breathe. To be my own individual self and let go. NAMI gave me a voice I always lacked. Volunteering for the organization became a mission. Helping others realize their strength gave me an overwhelming sense of accountability. Once again I had a purpose.

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) was founded in 1979, by a several family members who had loved ones who were struggling, and desperately attempted to navigate a non-existent system. NAMI was born 40 years ago, and is now the largest grassroots mental health organization in the country. There are over 500 local NAMI affiliates across the country. NAMI affiliates provide the NAMI national programing and training to communities of families and peers. NAMI provides these programs at no cost to the individual. They are volunteer run and peer led programs by trained volunteers with their own experiences. NAMI’s mission is to support, educate and advocate. The education programs are designed to enhance communication and understanding, produce relapse prevention planning and various techniques to prepare for crisis. Our support groups for both families and peers, provide weekly support for those struggling. And our outreach programs, reach the community to raise awareness and breakdown stigma.

In almost every state I have lived, MD, CA, VA, NJ, VA, FL, I have sought out the support of local NAMI affiliates. A general search and some tipoffs from in patient staff keyed me in on finding my local NAMI chapter many years ago in 2008. Back then I was at the beginning of my journey. Where I am now I owe very much to how NAMI helped me in so many ways. It has always been my belief that NAMI plays such an integral role in our community in starting the conversation on mental health, and ending the silence.