NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS

NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. NAMI has over 1,100 affiliates in communities across the country who engage in advocacy, research, support, and education. Members of NAMI are families, friends, and people living with mental illnesses. (1)

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill came into existence in September 1979 when a relatively small group of families descended on Madison, Wisconsin, with no lesser goal than that of changing the system. Those who came represented the newly developing self-help groups springing up in communities across the country. They came in response to an invitation of the Madison family group and in a matter of a few days they created a structure that came to be known as the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI). Among those in attendance were Bob and Frances Brunkan of Dyersville, Iowa, along with Harry and Sylvia Turner. (2)

In a letter dated May 27, 1991, Frances Brunkan wrote: We attended the Madison meeting along with another couple, Harry and Sylvia Turner, from Dubuque. We returned to Dubuque and began meetings which led to the formation of NAMI of Dubuque in 1980. (3)

NAMI of Dubuque was the first recipient of a contribution from 100+ WOMEN WHO CARE

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Source:

1. NAMI Dubuque. Online: https://www.namidubuque.org/history

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. 2. Montgomery, Jeff. "Caring Men, Women Top $200,000," Telegraph Herald, September 6, 2017, p. 3A