The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. What started as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979 has blossomed into the nation’s leading voice on mental health, now an alliance of more than 650 local Affiliates and 49 State Organizations working in communities to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available. Through programs and services, NAMI challenges stigma, champions supportive policies, and supports and empowers individuals and families, building stronger communities and a better future for everyone affected by mental illness.
Why It Matters: Mental illness affects millions of Americans who historically faced stigma, isolation, and lack of support—and transforming that reality requires grassroots organizing that reaches into every community, not just policy change from above. By growing from families around a kitchen table to 650+ local affiliates, NAMI demonstrates that the people most affected by mental illness and their families are the most powerful advocates for change when they connect and organize together. The combination of challenging stigma, championing policy, and providing direct support and education addresses the reality that building better lives for those affected by mental illness requires working on multiple fronts simultaneously—cultural, political, and personal.
