NAMI OF CONNECTICUT INC

NAMI OF CONNECTICUT, INC. (NAMI CT) IS A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION AFFILIATED WITH THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS (NAMI), AND PROVIDES SUPPORT, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY FOR ALL PEOPLE OF CONNECTICUT AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS. ESTABLISHED IN 1984, NAMI CT ENVISIONS A WORLD WHERE ALL PERSONS AFFECTED BY MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS EXPERIENCE THE BEST POSSIBLE QUALITY OF LIFE, FREE FROM THE STIGMA OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL ILLNESS. WE PARTNER WITH MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, POLICE ORGANIZATIONS, LEGISLATORS, EDUCATORS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND FRIENDS AND FAMILIES TO EDUCATE THOSE WHO NEED DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL ILLNESS SYMPTOMS, CAUSES, AND OUTCOMES. NAMI CT PROVIDES LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND RESOURCES TO NINE (9) LOCAL NAMI AFFILIATE CHAPTERS IN CONNECTICUT, WITH AN ADDITIONAL AFFILIATE IN DEVELOPMENT, WHICH DELIVER EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT GROUPS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. PROGRAMS ARE COORDINATED BY NAMI CT AND DELIVERED BY AFFILIATE VOLUNTEER FACILITATORS AND TEACHERS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS. PROGRAMS WE OFFERED IN FYE 2025 INCLUDE ENDING THE SILENCE, A SCHOOL-BASED INITIATIVE PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH AGE-APPROPRIATE INFORMATION THAT REDUCES THE STIGMA OF MENTAL ILLNESS; FAMILY-TO-FAMILY, AN EVIDENCE-BASED EIGHT-WEEK EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR FAMILY MEMBERS; IN OUR OWN VOICE, A COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM ENABLING INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS TO OFFER TESTIMONIALS ABOUT RECOVERY; PROVIDER EDUCATION, A PROGRAM THAT INTRODUCES MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO THE UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES OF PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND THEIR FAMILIES; OUR YOUNG ADULT CONNECTION COMMUNITY PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS AGES 18-29 LIVING WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION; NAMI ON CAMPUS, STUDENT-LED SCHOOL CLUBS THAT TACKLE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ON CAMPUS BY RAISING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, EDUCATING THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTING STUDENTS; AND OUR SUPPORT GROUPS FOR PARENTS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, PEOPLE LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, OPIOID EDUCATION AND FAMILY AND PEER SUPPORT; FRIENDS, FAMILIES, SPOUSES AND SUICIDE ATTEMPT SURVIVORS. WE HAVE ALSO CREATED AND LAUNCHED A NEW SUICIDE PREVENTION PRESENTATION, WHY WE DIDN'T TELL YOU, WHICH FOCUSES ON LEARNING FROM THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF INDIVIDUALS WITH SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. WITH THE COLLABORATION OF OUR NAMI AFFILIATES STATEWIDE AND MORE THAN 325 VOLUNTEERS, NAMI CT REACHED MORE THAN 16,000 PEOPLE THROUGH OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS, SUPPORT GROUPS, COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS, AND ADDITIONAL ONLINE RESOURCES, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING HIGHLIGHTS: RESPONDED TO OVER 1,250 CALLS, EMAILS, AND REQUESTS THROUGH OUR WEBSITE FROM PEOPLE LOOKING FOR MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND REFERRALS FOR THEMSELVES OR A LOVED ONE. HELD OVER 670 FAMILY, PEER, AND YOUNG ADULT ONLINE AND IN-PERSON SUPPORT GROUPS PROVIDING HELP AND HOPE TO OVER 5,279 ATTENDEES, INCLUDING FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOVED ONES WITH OPIOID ADDICTION. OUR IN-PERSON STATEWIDE CONFERENCE IN OCTOBER, 2024 ENGAGED 100 PARTICIPANTS IN WORKSHOPS EXPLORING THE ISSUES FACING THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMUNITY. CONTINUED OUR NEW SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM OUT OF THE ABYSS, IN 5 MENTAL HEALTH REGIONS OF CONNECTICUT, IN PERSON, WITH ONE ONLINE GROUP. REACHED MORE THAN 3,596 PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, FAMILY MEMBERS OF PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, AND POLICE OFFICERS THROUGH COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS ON MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, INCLUDING PROVIDER EDUCATION, IN OUR OWN VOICE, NAMI 101 AND MENTAL HEALTH 101, ENDING THE SILENCE IN THE WORKPLACE. THESE FREE PRESENTATIONS PROVIDE A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE OF MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, AS LEADERS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE TALK OPENLY ABOUT WHAT IT IS LIKE TO HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION. HELD 13 FAMILY-TO-FAMILY EDUCATION CLASSES FOR 144 FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS. OUR NAMI BASICS PROGRAM, FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, WAS OFFERED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH THIS PAST YEAR. WE NOW HAVE A STATE TRAINER WHO WILL TRAIN ADDITIONAL CLASS LEADERS IN SPANISH-SPEAKING COMMUNITIES.