NAMI Illinois

NAMI Illinois (IL) is a not-for-profit membership organization created to improve the lives of individuals and families challenged by mental illness across Illinois. NAMI IL was founded in 1985 as an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a nationwide mental health advocacy organization. In collaboration with NAMI National, and our twenty-one NAMI IL local community affiliates, we influence public policies, provide up to date education and support programs, and increase public awareness and understanding of mental illness. NAMI delivers programs in schools, and has culturally sensitive education materials and programs, as well as support groups in Spanish. NAMI IL has three overarching goals: 1) Advocate--bring the need of persons with mental illness and their families to the attention of legislators, service providers, medical staff, and the general public, while protecting the rights of persons living with mental illness and pressing for added community support services; 2) Support--focuses on family-to-family and consumer-to-consumer support and interaction through support group meetings, and peer- based recovery support; 3) Educate--NAMI provides training and educational materials for families, persons with mental illness and professionals. Our work improves thousands of lives each year.