WHAT IS NAMI-NYS?

NAMI-NYS is the state organization of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots organization for people with mental illness and their families. Founded in 1979, NAMI has affiliates in every state and in more than 1,100 local communities across the country.

NAMI-NYS provides support to family and friends of individuals with mental illness and persons living with mental illnesses through more than 50 affiliates statewide.

WHAT IS NAMI-NYS' MISSION?

The purpose of the NAMI-New York State shall be to serve as an alliance of local mutual support, advocacy, self-help groups and individual members at-large dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with serious mental illness and to the eventual eradication of the severe effects of mental illnesses.

WHAT DO WE DO?

Public Education and Information Activities
Peer Education and Support
Raising Awareness and Fighting Stigma
State and Federal Advocacy

2011 NAMI-NYS Educational Conference: New Challenges, New Hopes, New Frontiers

NAMI-NYS wants to thank everyone who made the 2011 Educational Conference-New Challenges, New Hopes, New Frontiers a great success and highest attended conference NAMI-NYS has ever produced. Visit the conference page to view a video of Patrick Kennedy’s keynote address “One Mind for Brain Research”, pictures from the conference and power point slides of speaker presentations.

We look forward to seeing you at the 2012 30th Anniversary Educational Conference taking place November 9-11 at the Desmond Hotel and Conference Center in Albany.

2011 New York State Assembly’s Legislative Awareness Day

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NAMI-NYS participated in the 2011 New York State Assembly’s Legislative Awareness Day on Monday, May 16th. Board President, Sherry Grenz and Executive Director, Don Capone had the opportunity to speak to key legislative members including Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (pictured), Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb, and Assemblyman Michael J. Cusick, Chair of the Task Force on People with Disabilities, informing them on the importance of maintaining funding to New York State’s psychiatric research facilities and incorporating mental health awareness in school curriculums. NAMI-NYS also had an information table at the event, where we gave out information on various mental health issues and our Signature Programs to members of the New York State Legislature, their staff members and members of the public who attended the event. You can click here to read about the Assembly approved legislation to protect New Yorkers with disabilities from discrimination.

NAMI Membership Rights

All active NAMI members within New York State are entitled to participation, including voting rights, in NAMI-NYS, as well as membership and participation, including voting rights in the NAMI affiliate of their choice within the state of New York. Further, “Open Door” NAMI members, in accordance with Article I, Section 2(1) of NAMI’s Bylaws, and members who join through NAMI’s “E-Join” system are, in accordance with NAMI’s Bylaws, Policies and Procedures and chartering requirements, fully entitled to the rights (including voting rights), privileges and benefits of NAMI membership in NAMI-NYS and the affiliate of their choice within the state of New York. In addition, members of NAMI, NAMI-NYS and any NAMI affiliate within the state of New York who are living with or in recovery from mental illnesses are fully entitled to the rights (including voting rights), privileges and benefits of NAMI membership in NAMI-NYS and the affiliate of their choice within the state of New York.