NAMI Blog

"In a letter to a stranger, we forget the burden of judgment and fears. In the letters we read, we are no longer alone. Someone, somewhere, thinks of us too. In our growing empathy for others, we learn kindness, too, for ourselves."

Giving or receiving support requires effective communication. How you listen and respond can change the tone and outcome of a conversation.

"I know I can be a lot to handle, especially when my moods are out of control. I’ve had people tell me that they just couldn’t handle it anymore. Yet, there’s one person who has stuck by me through the good, bad and ugly: my pastor, Robby."

"As a NAMI HelpLine volunteer, at the very least I need to listen and be kind; to let callers know I’m not going anywhere, and I’m going to do my very best to figure things out with them."

Peer support is an affordable, accesible option to help people in their recovery. Here are the keys of how to improve your mental health and emotional growth through peer support.

"Working in peer support helped me feel empowered. Not only could sharing my lived experience be a career, but I could also genuinely help people."

"Talking to mental health professionals and receiving various treatments can be an important piece to one’s recovery journey, but there is a special power in talking to others who have been in and through similar situations."

Since the rise of the smartphone, indicators of mental health such as happiness, self-esteem and life satisfaction have decreased while serious mental health issues like anxiety, depression, loneliness and suicide have increased significantly. Here are some tips to reduce screen time. 

Travel can be one of the most incredible experiences for those of us struggling with our mental health. However, it can also be incredibly challenging. Here are a few tips to make it easier. 

Peer support groups not only offer a judgement-free space to connect, they also provide the opportunity to help other participants going through similar struggles.