The National Association for Mental Health Education and Training is the NAMI. It was founded in 1978 by Florence Kelley with a vision to change the way people think about mental illness, addiction, and drug treatment. It is one of the largest organizations devoted to providing quality addiction and mental health care and education. NAMI has evolved from just an organization to an agency that provides free assistance and resources for anyone who needs it. It is also a non-profit membership organization. NAMI has grown into an organization with a nationwide reach. NAMI provides programs to reach people in their communities across the country.
Florence Kelley first formed NAMI as an informal gathering of families gathered around their kitchen table. NAMI began as a group of five families that gathered on this day to share stories of recovery, create a newsletter, and prepare meals. Today, NAMI is an organization of more than 800 local affiliates who work hard in your community to promote awareness and offer education and support to people who are not able to afford it. Through NAMI’s education and prevention campaigns, more people become aware of the seriousness of addiction and substance abuse and find help for themselves. They educate their family and friends about the issues of substance abuse, addiction, and mental illness so they can be more aware of the signs that someone they love may be suffering from these issues.
In order to reach the people that need help from substance abuse, NAMI helps to put together resources for those who need it, such as: drug abuse, substance abuse, family education, and employment opportunities. The organization also works hard to create awareness about mental illness, addiction, and alcohol or drug abuse. By creating awareness through education and prevention campaigns, NAMI strives to help make the world a better place.
