What are the major Advocacy Groups for People with Mental Illness?

We will now take a closer look at four major advocacy groups for people with mental illness:

  • National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
  • National Mental Health Association (NMHA)
  • National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association (NDMDA)
  • National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD)

While some of these groups advocate for the treatment of mental illness in general, others focus on specific disorders. We will also look at several other advocacy groups, including Schizophrenics Anonymous and the non-mainstream Anti-Psychiatry Coalition, and we will conclude with a look at peer and family advocacy groups.

NAMI
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI). NAMI is a nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization of consumers, families, and friends of people with serious mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

NMHA
National Mental Health Association (NMHA). NMHA is the country’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness.  Established in 1909, NMHA is a consumer-focused organization that conducts both national and grassroots advocacy and has more than 340 affiliates in the US. 

NDMDA
National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association (NDMDA). Depressive disorders is a general category that includes major depression. Manic-depressive disorder is also known as bipolar disorder.

NARSAD
National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD). National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD) is the largest non-government, donor-supported organization that distributes funds for brain disorder research.