About NAMI Whatcom

NAMI Whatcom is an local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. We are dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness by providing free support groups, classes, and education forums to the community. All our programs are free, and led by trained volunteers who either live with a mental health condition or have a loved one with a mental health condition. Our nonprofit operates with the support of our members, donations and grants.

NAMI Whatcom is fully inclusive of individuals and families of all backgrounds and cultures. Our affiliate collaborates with others to advocate for system change and public policies that best support recovery and resiliency for those living with mental illness. 

​View board meeting minutes and our annual report here.

Mission

Our mission is to provide hope and improve the quality of life for those who are affected by mental health conditions through support, education, and advocacy.

Values

NAMI Whatcom values support, education, advocacy and research. These are the “four pillars” of NAMI and have long been the foundation upon which we have built the NAMI movement.

Education speaks to the broad array of public education efforts and focused training that NAMI Whatcom offers to improve understanding of mental illness and it’s impact on all of our lives.

Advocacy is our efforts at systems change, working to improve public policy, bureaucratic procedures, research and treatment options for all people whose lives are affected by mental illness.

Support takes the form of mutual emotional support, provided by people who share common experiences and can draw strength from one another across time and space in ways that only those who have “walked a mile in our shoes” can.

Research is utilized to inform how we plan and implements our programs, and is used to shape our public policies.

Vision

NAMI Whatcom is dedicated to the strengthening of our grassroots affiliate organization in order to better address our mission.

NAMI Whatcom is dedicated to encouraging  those living in recovery and their loved ones to develop the understanding, skills, and strengths they need to cope with mental illness.

NAMI Whatcom is dedicated to increasing community support for recovery and reintegration of persons who have a mental illness.

NAMI Whatcom works to find ways to bring individuals living in recovery, caregivers and families, and health service providers closer by sharing insights and techniques beneficial to individuals in these three categories.

NAMI Whatcom is fully inclusive of individuals of all backgrounds and cultures.