Name: National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI)
Location: 3803 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203
Web URL:
http://www.nami.org/
Starting Year: 1979
Efficiency: Financial 84.13; Transparency 96.00 according to Charity Navigator
Type of Charity: Health
Basic Description/Mission Statement: NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. We educate. Offered in thousands of communities across America through our NAMI State Organizations and NAMI Affiliates, our education programs ensure hundreds of thousands of families, individuals and educators get the support and information they need. We advocate. NAMI shapes the national public policy landscape for people with mental illness and their families and provides grassroots volunteer leaders with the tools, resources and skills necessary to save mental health in all states. We listen. Our toll-free NAMI HelpLine allows us to respond personally to hundreds of thousands of requests each year, providing free referral, information and support—a much-needed lifeline for many. We lead. Public awareness events and activities, including Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW), NAMIWalks and other efforts, successfully combat stigma and encourage understanding. NAMI works with reporters on a daily basis to make sure our country understands how important mental health is.
OR
Name: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Location: 120 Wall Street, 29th Floor, New York, NY 10005
Web URL:
http://www.afsp.org/
Starting Year: 1987
Efficiency: Financial 90.85; Transparency 96.00 according to Charity Navigator
Type of Charity: Health
Basic Description/Mission Statement:
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is the leader in the fight against suicide. We fund research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, AFSP has 75 local chapters with programs and events nationwide.
To fully achieve its mission, AFSP engages in the following Five Core Strategies:
- Fund scientific research
- Offer educational programs for professionals
- Educate the public about mood disorders and suicide prevention
- Promote policies and legislation that impact suicide and prevention
- Provide programs and resources for survivors of suicide loss and people at risk, and involve them in the work of the Foundation
Why am I nominating either of these?
I would support either of these as our Q4 charity. Mental health issues in the U.S. should be a top priority. Most health insurance does not adequately cover the types of treatment needed by many patients. There is not enough support for family members of those with mental health issues. The stigma of mental health makes it hard for people suffering to reach out for treatment and support. Most people with mental health issues and their families are isolated in ways that others often do not realize. These illnesses are often misunderstood and misrepresented in the media and popular culture. It will take a major shift in order for this to change.
