Please consider contributing to NAMI-NYS’s mission to provide support, education, advocacy and awareness around mental wellness and mental health conditions and our support of our local NAMI affiliates who are doing such outstanding work around the state.

This year has been difficult for almost everyone, and the focus on mental health has increased as people faced anxiety and depression around the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation, social justice issues and a divisive election season.  NAMI-NYS and the NAMI affiliates in New York were called upon to offer support to an increasing number of people in need, while also having to design creative ways to meet that need. As we move forward, we are still working to provide training and support, education and awareness and to continue to advocate around the issues that most impact the people we represent.

How does your support for NAMI-NYS benefit the community? 

Funding for Training and Support: NAMI-NYS is responsible for training new program leaders for NAMI Signature programs throughout the state which are offered free to the public.  On average, NAMI-NYS trains 100 new program leaders every year so that affiliates can offer NAMI programs throughout the state, reaching more than 10,000 people annually. While in the past NAMI programs could only be offered in person, NAMI relaxed that rule as a result of  social distancing measures. NAMI-NYS was able to pivot quickly, with no interruptions in training for NAMI program leaders.  In addition to program support, NAMI-NYS operates a Helpline that fields calls for people seeking assistance around support, services, programs, criminal justice and legal issues, housing, requests for mental health educational and informational literature and connections to local resources. The call volume increased over last year and continues to remain constant as the community grapples with anxiety and depression into 2021.

Awareness and Education: NAMI-NYS provides funding to the local affiliates to run classes and programs that are free to the public, as well as information resources to be used at community events. NAMI-NYS was able to implement a series of virtual activities, like yoga and journaling sessions, to keep the community connected during the period of social isolation, and the local NAMI affiliates stepped up to provide support groups, classes and presentations virtually to the public. The NAMI-NYS annual Education Conference is another aspect of our efforts around education and awareness that brings together mental health advocates, experts in research and treatment, families and individuals impacted by mental health conditions and NAMI leaders to educate about all aspects of mental health and mental health disorders. Last year, despite the pandemic, NAMI-NYS was able to offer the event virtually, registering more participants than ever before.

Advocacy: As the largest grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of those with mental illness and their families, NAMI is the leader in mental health advocacy. NAMI-NYS operates at the state level, working with state officials to legislatively address issues that affect those impacted by mental health conditions.  Our legislative advocacy, while a year-round endeavor, usually kicks off with a Legislative Conference. The restrictions caused by the pandemic forced us to improvise, but we along with our affiliates and local advocates were still able to conduct 55 legislative meetings, we also provided materials including a mock advocacy video to help our members most effectively tell their stories. NAMI-NYS has also provided  testimony at legislative hearings and participated in press conferences to raise our voices around issues important to improving the lives of whom we represent.

NAMI-NYS’s advocacy voice contributed to the historic passage of the landmark HALT bill that will reform the torturous use of Solitary Confinement. We are building on that achievement by being especially active in working to divert people away from the criminal justice system by ensuring that a mental health crisis is met with a mental health response. NAMI-NYS is advocating for the advancement of Daniel’s Law which would have mental health professionals instead of police respond to calls involving someone in a mental health crisis. NAMI-NYS is also proud to serve on the New York State 9-8-8 Implementation Coalition to ensure that New York connects the 9-8-8 number with a fully functional mental health response system which would include mental health responders and crisis stabilization centers.

Our ability to improve the lives of those impacted by mental illness is dependent on the generosity of our members and supporters. Please consider contributing to NAMI-NYS this Mental Health Awareness Month-we have so much more work to do!