Board of Directors Announcement We are pleased to announce the following individuals have been elected to serve on the NAMI Mass Board of Directors: Brandon Jones Brandon is a new member of the Board of Directors. Brandon has witnessed the profound impact of structural issues like poverty, racism, and ableism on mental health challenges. As…
Join us in a conversation on suicide prevention with Heather Palacios, founder of Wondherful, Inc. Join us on Saturday, January 6th, 2024, from 1 pm to 3 pm at the Middleton Senior Center / Council on Aging, 38 Maple Street, Middleton, MA 01949, for a talk featuring Heather Palacios, Founder of Wondherful, Inc. Wondherful is…
Office Closed for Winter BreakIn the spirit of the winter holiday season, the NAMI Massachusetts office will be closed from Monday, December 25th, to Tuesday, January 2nd. This Winter Break is dedicated to providing our hardworking staff with an opportunity to relax, recharge, and spend cherished moments with loved ones. Please note that this closure…
Save the Date! The Annual Business Meeting will be held on December 13, 2023, 7:00-8:00 PM via Zoom. Connect with affiliates, vote for new board members and bylaws, and discuss organizational matters. Dive into insightful panels for a well-rounded experience. Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute and connect! Keep reading to learn more about this…
Join us in conversation with Charlene Zuffante, Child, Youth & Family Deputy Commissioner Join us Wednesday, November 15th at 7:00 pm on Zoom for an engaging conversation with the new Deputy Commissioner of Child, Youth, and Family (CYF), Charlene Zuffante. This event is a unique opportunity to connect, discuss, and share insights on vital matters…
In light of the murder of Lauri Carleton over her store’s Pride flag and the murders of Angela Carr, A.J. Laguerre Jr., and Jarrald De’Shaun Gallion by a racist white shooter, NAMI Massachusetts reaffirms our condemnation of hateful rhetoric and the violence that too often follows it. These acts of discriminatory gun violence showcase a…
NAMI Mass Members will elect directors to join the Board of Directors at its Annual Meeting in the fall. Apply to join NAMI Mass Board of Directors Please read the guidelines below before submitting an application. The Annual Meeting will take place at the beginning of November (date TBD.) Members eligible to vote at the…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 19th, 2023 BOSTON, MA – NAMI Massachusetts, the state branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is proud to host the 19th Annual NAMIWalks Massachusetts this weekend, rain or shine. The Walk will take place on May 20th, 2023, at Artesani Park in Boston, and participants can register online…
NAMI Mass will be CLOSED on Monday, May 22nd, as our staff takes a well-deserved rest after an exciting weekend of NAMIWalks Mass. This means all departments, including the Compass Helpline, will be unavailable next Monday. Please plan accordingly! Other resources you can access If you or someone you support is experiencing a mental…
Heads up! The NAMI Massachusetts office will be CLOSED in observance of Patriot’s Day on Monday, April 17th, 2023. That means all departments, including the Compass Helpline, will be closed for the day. During this time, staff will be unavailable by phone or email. We will return to regular hours on Tuesday, April 18th, 2023.…
NAMI Massachusetts mourns the continued and unnecessary loss of life due to gun violence. We acknowledge that these statements are made too often and too frequently. It is beyond time that our legislators address the immense devastation that gun violence has induced. As many have already seen, gun violence is the leading cause of death…
On 4/3, NAMI Mass hosted our second Panel of Advocacy Day, Promoting Mental Health Equity in Massachusetts. View the replay below.
On 4/3, we hosted our first Panel of Advocacy Day, Crisis Response in Massachusetts. View the replay below.
All panels for Advocacy Day will be streamed live on NAMI Mass Facebook. Facebook account & Registration not required. 11:00 am – 12:30 pm: Crisis Response in Massachusetts Panel Panelists: • Vesper Moore, Chief Operating Officer of the Kiva Centers Vesper Moore is a political activist, leader, organizer, public speaker, and educator in the psychiatric survivor and…
On January 7th, 2023, Tyre Nichols was pulled over for a traffic stop by Memphis police and was attacked and beaten. He died three days later. In the weeks that followed, the senseless, merciless murder of Tyre Nichols was shared by news outlets across the country. At NAMI Mass, we believe incidences of traumatization and…
Here at NAMI Massachusetts, we want to uplift and support the efforts of NAMI-NYC for the work they are doing to combat Mayor Adams’ declaration to involuntarily hospitalize homeless individuals living with a mental health condition. While we want to promote more public dialogue around said community members, we do not approve of Mayor Adams’…
Today, tomorrow, and every day NAMI Massachusetts condemns the rampant, hateful rhetoric that is being amplified by public statements of antisemitism in media. We stand in solidarity with our Jewish partner organizations, families, friends, and co-workers in the face of these insensitive, morally repugnant statements and actions. While NAMI Massachusetts upholds the mental health of…
NAMI Mass is excited to announce our $150k Challenge! An anonymous donor has promised us $25,000 – but ONLY if we reach $125,000 before midnight, December 31st. All together, that means our end of the year campaign would hit $150,000, a huge goal. Will you help us get there? Update (1/1/2023): This Challenge is now…
Upcoming Holiday ClosuresThe NAMI Massachusetts office will be closed on the following dates, to give our staff time to relax, recharge, and spend time with loved ones during the winter holiday season. This includes our Compass Helpline and peer support, family support, and community education teams.* During this time, staff will be unavailable by phone…
Dr. Myisha Rodrigues joins NAMI Massachusetts as Executive DirectorNAMI Massachusetts (NAMI Mass) is proud to announce that Dr. Myisha R. Rodrigues has joined the organization as Executive Director. Her official start date will be November 28, 2022. With nearly 20 years of experience in the mental health, education, and non-profit sectors, Dr. Rodrigues is committed…
*Update 1/12/2023: The 2022 elections are now over.* In preparing for the NAMI Mass fall 2022 election, the Nominating Subcommittee offers these guidelines to assist in the selection of candidates for a position on the Board of Directors. Background: The NAMI Mass Board of Directors (NAMI Mass BOD) works collaboratively to represent the interests of…
Mental Health Omnibus BillThe Massachusetts Senate and House passed the Mental Health Addressing Barriers to Care (ABC) Act. The final bill proposes a wide range of reforms to ensure equitable access to mental health care and to address barriers to care by supporting the workforce crisis. Although there are a lot of changes in the…
We are accepting workshop proposals for the NAMI Mass Convention! NAMI Massachusetts is pleased to announce that we are accepting workshop proposals for our 40th Annual State Convention, to be held in-person on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at The Westin Waltham. Learn more about the Convention. The theme of this year’s convention is Changing Tomorrow…
9-8-8 will go live on July 16, 2022. Here’s what you need to know…9-8-8 is a new easy-to-remember number for reaching the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. In Massachusetts, we have 5 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline centers that are staffed by non-clinicians. Presently, not all these centers are 24/7 and some of them do not…
Save the dates: NAMI Mass is celebrating 40 years! 2022 marks the 40th anniversary of NAMI Massachusetts. We will begin our celebration on the evening of Wednesday, September 7 at a fundraiser dinner and continue at our 40th Annual Convention on Saturday, November 5. 40th Anniversary Fundraising Dinner Wednesday, September 7, 2022 The Westin Waltham…
NAMI MA Response to the overturning of Roe v. WadeLast week, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade, ending a nearly 50-year precedent of the right to abortion and reproductive autonomy. At NAMI Mass, we uphold bodily autonomy, reproductive autonomy, and privacy as fundamental human rights. We know that people with…
Upcoming Training for Speakers: In Our Own Voice & Sharing Our Stories We’re excited to offer training for people who are interested in sharing their personal stories! If you are interested in sharing your story of living with a mental health condition or your story of supporting a family member living with a mental health condition,…
Resources for Members of the LGBT+ Community and Allies updated June 2023 Resources for Members of the LGBT+ Community Peer Support Groups Peer support groups can be a great way to get free support from other people with a similar experience. All groups listed below are facilitated by and for members of the LGBT+ community…
Today, NAMI Massachusetts mourns the continued unnecessary loss of life due to gun violence. It’s hard to comprehend the level of senseless violence that has occurred in this country over the past few days. Shootings in Buffalo, Southern California, and Texas have splashed across the headlines and have brought us all sorrow and anguish, but…
Community Conversations: AAPI Mental Health PanelJoin us Monday, May 16 at 6:30 pm for a panel on AAPI Mental Health, where local leaders will discuss the general perception of mental health in the AAPI community, cultural challenges of (or solutions for) dealing with AAPI mental health, and mental health issues at the intersection of other…
NAMI Massachusetts is alarmed and disappointed to read the Disability Law Center’s recent findings of serious health and safety violations at Bridgewater State Hospital (BSH). Particularly disturbing are reports of patients being subjected to chemical and physical restraint, unconnected to clinical needs and in violation of the law. All individuals with mental health conditions deserve…
Registration for NAMIWalks Massachusetts 2022 is Now Open! Register today! Team captains that register 10 or more weeks before the date of the event will receive a light-up keychain as a prize! Learn more about the Walk! Register for the NAMIWalks Massachusetts 20222022 Walk Kick-Off Event The Kickoff Event will be Thursday, March 10th at 7…
#MentalHealthWhileBlack: Interview With DeeDee's CryJoin us on Tuesday, February 15th at 5:30 pm as we talk to Toy Burton, the Executive Director of local nonprofit, DeeDee’s Cry, about mental health in the Black community, suicide prevention, and her upcoming Mental Health While Black summit. Register Here! Guest: Toy Burton Founder & Executive Director, DeeDee’s Cry Toy Burton…
Mental Health While Black Summit NAMI Mass is proud to co-sponsor the DeeDee’s Cry Mental Health While Black Summit. Join us on Friday, February 18th for discussions about the intersection of mental health and race and how we can support communities of color and other organizations doing this important work.
NAMI Announces REIMAGINE: A 988 Week of Action, Nov. 15th – 19th A mental health crisis deserves a mental health response — and people in crisis and their families deserve better than the current system. That’s why NAMI is hosting REIMAGINE: A Week of Action to Reimagine Our National Response to People in Crisis, taking place Nov. 15–19. Throughout…
Let's Talk About Mental Health for All: Communities in ConversationNAMI Massachusetts hosted a series of panels focused on how diverse communities think about and address mental health, experience specific barriers, contemplate changes needed, promote recovery and healing, and build resilience. We invited a panel of speakers to discuss mental health issues in their communities and…
June 2021 Legislative Hearings and testimony Updates on recent hearings in June and upcoming hearings in July. Joint Committee of the Judiciary on June 15, 2021 NAMI Mass supplied written testimony in opposition to H.1888/S.926, An Act relative to strengthening the penalty for assault or assault and battery on an emergency medical technician, ambulance operator,…
Finding Home: a 4-part webinarFridays in June at 10 am Join us for a 4-part interactive webinar series about finding housing! Each 1-hour webinar will focus on a different aspect of the housing search. June 4th (week 1) an orientation to the Finding Home guide tips for your housing search and who can help …
NAMI Statement on Violence Against Asian American Community March 18, 2021 ARLINGTON, VA — The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) today released the following statement from NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr., regarding the recent violence against members of the Asian American community. “We are deeply saddened by this traumatic event in Atlanta that…
Perspectives on Mental Health: Consequences of Racism and Otherism on Black Americans Saturday, February 27, 2021 10 – 11:30 am This panel discussion addresses unique mental health consequences of racism and otherism on Black Americans. We will discuss access to healthcare, workplace discrimination and bullying, systemic racism and discrimination in the criminal justice system, issues…
Special Needs Law Month: Living with a Mental Illness A special 3-part virtual program from the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) in conjunction with NAMI Massachusetts! NAMI Massachusetts is pleased to partner with the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) on this special 3-part…
Join us for virtual In Our Own Voice presentations during Mental Health Awareness Week! We’ll be hosting virtual In Our Own Voice presentations via Zoom in celebration of Mental Health Awareness Week! Join us for a powerful presentation that aims to change attitudes, assumptions, and stereotypes about people living with mental health conditions. Two trained…
Registration is now open for NAMI Homefront Online! NAMI Homefront is a free 6-session program for family, friends and significant others of current and former military members. The program is designed to help people understand and support their family member while maintaining their own well-being. Classes start October 5th – 7th, and space is limited!…
9-8-8 National Day of Action We need your help to get 9-8-8 over the finish line! This easy-to-access, nationwide 3-digit emergency number (9-8-8*) will help people in a mental health crisis. And it’s close to becoming a reality. The Federal Communications Commission unanimously voted in July to designate 9-8-8 as the universal three-digit dialing code…
We are in this together! You are not alone! On behalf of the NAMI Mass Board of Directors and Executive Director, we feel we would be remiss not to voice our passion for social justice and how appalled we are at the murder of George Floyd in the Powderhorn community of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This is…
On February 27, 2020, Attorney General Maura Healey announced agreements with five insurers and two health benefits administrators to improve parity compliance and enforcement in the Commonwealth. This is an important step in improving access to behavioral health services and will effect up to 1 million people in the state. You can watch a short…
NAMI Basics OnDemand is now available! NAMI Basics OnDemand was created in response to the outpouring of requests for a program option that doesn’t require in person attendance. The OnDemand format gives participants an opportunity to get engaged with NAMI programs who otherwise may not be able to participate in their communities. NAMI Basics OnDemand…
Last fall, NAMI joined a lawsuit challenging an Administration regulation that allowed for the expanded sale of short-term, limited duration (STLD) insurance plans. Earlier today, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon upheld the Administration’s regulation in ACAP v. Treasury. NAMI believes this regulation hurts our decades-long fight for mental health parity by allowing for an…
The Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) is initiating an intensive effort to redesign the front door of behavioral health. Together, we will imagine a system that presents a no-wrong-door point of entry. A system with same-day access, that defines community-based emergency and urgent care responses and untangles the maze that has been…
On Tuesday, May 7th, Lori Krinksky (President of NAMI Central Middlesex) and Monica Luke (Chair of the NAMI Mass Advocacy Committee) testified at the State House in support of H913 – An Act to increase consumer transparency about insurance provider networks S610 – An Act to increase consumer transparency about insurance provider networks S592 –…
In a scathing decision released Tuesday, a federal judge in Northern California ruled that a unit of UnitedHealth Group, the giant health insurer, had created internal policies aimed at effectively discriminating against patients with mental health and substance abuse disorders to save money. U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero found that United Behavioral Health,…
Landmark Parity Ruling On March 5, 2019 United States District Court for the Northern District of California held that United Behavioral Health (“UBH/Optum”), the country’s largest managed behavioral healthcare organization, illegally denied mental health and substance use coverage based on flawed medical necessity criteria. In his detailed ruling, Chief Magistrate Judge Joseph Spero found the…