During the month of May, NAMI will observe Mental Health Month to raise awareness of mental illness. This year, NAMI is launching "CureStigma," a new campaign that positions stigma as a “social virus” that is spreading across America.
Despite what you may have been told, mental illness is treatable. But it can’t be done alone. Collaboration among all types of stakeholders, including the community, is imperative. From hospitals and housing agencies to the justice system , care providers and beyond—if...
For the third year, the Community Innovation Awards program honors four local organizations for innovative approaches to improving mental health.
A plea for help “I don’t know where to turn. My son, James, is 35 and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He is using drugs—I know he is from the dazed look that he gets in his eyes. He is drinking too. The last time he was hospitalized on a psy...
Typically, when we hear the word “stress,” we think of being frazzled, overwhelmed and anxious. That’s because “stress” is automatically associated with a negative connotation. But unpleasant sensations are actually the result of distress , not stress. And yes, there is a...
NAMI has released a new video series aimed at helping college bound students and their families talk about mental health. The videos are part of the “Starting the Conversation: College and Your Mental Health” guide NAMI and the Jed Foundation released last year.
Have you ever had a conversation with someone that tempted you to open up about something incredibly personal, but you hesitated due to the fear of that person’s reaction? Were you worried that telling them would alter their perception of you? Many people experience this f...
Mental health heavily influences our quality of life. So it makes sense that mental health, just like physical health, needs to be taken care of and maintained. And one way that it can be maintained is through finding a sense of community. Community can be defined in ...
Tidying has become a popular trend this year. If you haven’t seen her series on Netflix or read her book, Marie Kondo is a Japanese consultant who helps people tidy their homes by reorganizing and only keeping things that “spark joy.” In her technique, the KonMari metho...
In partnership with the Hope & Grace Initiative, NAMI has launched " StigmaFree " a new public service announcement (PSA) for television featuring actress and mental health advocate Mayim Bialik. The PSA is part of NAMI's stigma free campaign and was released to coincide wit...
Late last week, the U.S. Senate passed a bill (S.993) reauthorizing and expanding the Mentally Ill Offender and Treatment Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA).
One year ago today, President Barack Obama signed the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act into law. It was named in honor of Clay Hunt, a Marine veteran who died by suicide in March 2011 at the age of 28. Clay Hunt joined the Marine Corps in 2005 and de...
Kayla Sharpe, left, and Valerie Denis at AKA International Convention Boulé – July 12, 2016 July is Minority Mental Health Month and I know what some of you may be thinking: Doesn’t the distinction of minority mental health further divide and isolate minority communiti...
I have bipolar disorder . It’s as much a part of me as my left-handedness. I’ve accepted my diagnosis, but I still have to work on being mindful of my symptoms, as bipolar disorder can come with a lack of self-awareness. This is especially true for hypomania (a less ...
NAMI applauds the passage of H.R. 2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, in the House Energy & Commerce Committee.
During the month of May, NAMI will observe Mental Health Month to raise awareness of mental illness. This year, NAMI is launching "CureStigma," a new campaign that positions stigma as a “social virus” that is spreading across America.
“Oṃ śhānti śhānti śhānti.” This mantra—meant to bring inner peace to those who chant it—is an example of the many connections between Buddhist teachings and mental health. Although Buddhism is primarily known as a spiritual tradition, it is also a lifestyle that encompasse...
In partnership with the Hope & Grace Initiative, NAMI has launched " StigmaFree, " a new public service announcement (PSA) for television featuring actress and mental health advocate Mayim Bialik. The PSA is part of NAMI's stigma free campaign and was released to coincide wi...
NAMI applauds the passage of H.R. 2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, in the House Energy & Commerce Committee.
President Trump’s stigmatizing comments about mental illness reinforce harmful stereotypes and create barriers for people trying to access care. Part of NAMI’s mission is to get people into mental health treatment, and we are willing to work with the Trump administration to i...