When going through life, many times we face many challenges that can bring  problems into our life. Many people struggle with mental health, but sometimes they can expand and become a mental illness.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), each year there are about millions of Americans that face living with a mental health condition. The first week of October, NAMI and participants across the country to raise awareness to provide support.

“We believe that mental health conditions are important to discuss all year, but MIAW provides a dedicated time for mental health advocates across the country to come together as one unified voice,” the NAMI website stated.

There are a wide range of mental health conditions that mental illness can have – the disorders can affect your mood, thinking, and behavior. Having a mental illness can cause many problems with daily life activities, including work, school, or even relationships. 

The National Alliance of Mental Illness began as the Parents of Adults Schizophrenics, a nonprofit association to support family groups who were seeking answers and treatments for their loved ones affected by mental illness. They changed their name to Alliance for the Mentally Ill of  San Mateo. The organization grew into a national movement where members pushed for more research, greater support, and broader public awareness. The growth of the movement resulted in the establishment of National Alliance on Mental Illness: the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. The National Alliance on Mental Illness was incorporated in 1979. 

In Washington, D.C. in 1980, the NAMI opened their offices and were appointed to the National Mental Health Advisory Council. They made their first public announcements on television nationally, “Shattered Dreams” and “Scrapbook,” in 1984. In 1990, the NAMI established the NAMI HelpLine, along with Congress establishing Mental Illness Awareness Week. The NAMI participated in the first White House Conference on Mental Health and launched the NAMI Family Support Group in 1999. 

This year’s Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) theme will concentrate on “Together We Care, Together We Share.” The campaign speaks to the impact of NAMI’s support system and conveys the power of coming together as a community. The new campaign is in partnership with Kohl’s Cares that speaks to the impact of NAMI support groups. The goal is to recruit new NAMI support group facilitators within underserved communities and increase participation within those communities. Specifically trying to reach adults and young adults within Black, Latino/Hispanic, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.

“Our hope is that, through this campaign, we can spread awareness of two NAMI’s major support resources: NAMI Support Groups and the new NAMI Teen and Young Adult HelpLine,” the NAMI website stated.

NAMI support groups create community and foster connection, leading to a sense of belonging and support. They offer an opportunity to connect with the community, share stories, access resources and know that no one is alone in their mental health journey. 

  For more information about National Alliance on Mental Illness look on, https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Mental-Illness-Awareness-Week.