The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation 's largest grassroots organization for people with mental illness and their families. NAMI is a nonprofit organization that provides education on mental health illnesses, whose purpose is also providing advocacy and support to people and families affected by mental health disorders. NAMI has largely been a force for good in the advocacy of information about mental health issues; equal treatment and access to treatment, and helping people navigate the mental health system in their community, (Grohol, 2010). The National Alliance on Mental Illnesses is an effective interest group because it’s mission is to eliminate pervasive stigma, seek positive change in the mental health system
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The many programs that NAMI provides allow family members to learn how to be supportive and also provide guidance on treatment needed to understand the problems that may be associated with this disease. NAMI provides many benefits to its thousands of members; yearly dues are collected to help fund all of the projects and training seminars provided. Members receive membership in local, state and national NAMI organizations; eligibility to vote in all NAMI elections; subscription to its quarterly magazine, The Advocate; discounts on training materiel which include videos, brochures, promotional items and registration fees to annual conventions. These benefits provide the members with informative resources needed to be able to properly provide the grassroots efforts locally, state wide and nationally. Without the proper training and education, people in the work environment, community or family in the homes would not have a clear understanding of the mental illness and how to help treat or rehabilitate this individual. However, funding can be a major concern so NAMI actively seeks contributions from governing bodies, companies and private individuals to provide their …show more content…
Congress and at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). NAMI is non-partisan and does not endorse candidates; they do however encourage you learn the positions and viewpoints of candidates on all levels of mental health issues. Mental illness does not discriminate; it affects Republicans and Democrats alike (NAMI, n.d.). NAMI’s advocacy efforts, particularly with Congress and NIMH, reinforced the central tenets of diagnostic psychiatry. NAMI has worked with legislators to introduce and pass laws that would end the discriminatory treatment of those with mental disorders in all insurance plans and companies. A new bill, The Comprehensive Behavioral Health and Recovery Act of 2016 (H.R. 4435), has been introduced by House Democrats in Congress. This bill joins the bipartisan H.R. 2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015, which had a lengthy hearing in November 2015 (NAMI,
The many programs that NAMI provides allow family members to learn how to be supportive and also provide guidance on treatment needed to understand the problems that may be associated with this disease. NAMI provides many benefits to its thousands of members; yearly dues are collected to help fund all of the projects and training seminars provided. Members receive membership in local, state and national NAMI organizations; eligibility to vote in all NAMI elections; subscription to its quarterly magazine, The Advocate; discounts on training materiel which include videos, brochures, promotional items and registration fees to annual conventions. These benefits provide the members with informative resources needed to be able to properly provide the grassroots efforts locally, state wide and nationally. Without the proper training and education, people in the work environment, community or family in the homes would not have a clear understanding of the mental illness and how to help treat or rehabilitate this individual. However, funding can be a major concern so NAMI actively seeks contributions from governing bodies, companies and private individuals to provide their …show more content…
Congress and at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). NAMI is non-partisan and does not endorse candidates; they do however encourage you learn the positions and viewpoints of candidates on all levels of mental health issues. Mental illness does not discriminate; it affects Republicans and Democrats alike (NAMI, n.d.). NAMI’s advocacy efforts, particularly with Congress and NIMH, reinforced the central tenets of diagnostic psychiatry. NAMI has worked with legislators to introduce and pass laws that would end the discriminatory treatment of those with mental disorders in all insurance plans and companies. A new bill, The Comprehensive Behavioral Health and Recovery Act of 2016 (H.R. 4435), has been introduced by House Democrats in Congress. This bill joins the bipartisan H.R. 2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015, which had a lengthy hearing in November 2015 (NAMI,