NAMI's policy is to acknowledge that severe and persistent mental illnesses are illnesses that affect the brain. Therefore, throughout this document, the term "brain disorder(s)" is used interchangeably with "severe and persistent mental illness(es)."

NAMI advocates for research and services in response to major illnesses that affect the brain, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic and other severe anxiety disorders, autism and pervasive developmental disorders, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. (Revised May 3, 1998)

NAMI requires that all NAMI documents and NAMI co-authored documents use language that puts people first. For example, "people or persons with brain disorders" instead of "mentally ill people" or "the mentally ill"; and "offenders with brain disorders" instead of "the criminally insane."