-To be effective in caring,
our representatives need
to know our feelings-
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MISSION STATEMENT
NAMI Pennsylvania is the largest family-based mental health
organization in Pennsylvania. Membership is comprised
of more than 9000 individuals and families in more than 60
affiliates throughout the Commonwealth.
Our mission is to improve the lives of the more than one
million citizens in Pennsylvania who either suffer
directly from a serious mental illness or, as family members
and caretakers, share the burden of these devastating diseases.
Our mission is accomplished by providing opportunities for
family members, friends of persons with mental illness and those
who suffer from a mental illness to join in mutual support.
NAMI Pennsylvania provides these groups with educational
opportunities so that they may learn about mental illness and
the mental health system of care for people with these brain
diseases. We empower these individuals and groups so that
they may advocate on behalf of people with mental illness, particularly
those who cannot speak for themselves.
- SUPPORT- To organize and offer technical assistance
to NAMI chapters across Pennsylvania so that these
chapters may become the resource within their county where
families and people with mental illness find support.
Clarion County NAMI contact number: 814-752-2633
- EDUCATION- To educate NAMI members so that
they become the educators for themselves and for others, becoming
advocates for a quality mental health system. To educate
specific groups that have influence in the mental health system
and the general public by producing and coordinating an effective
statewide public education program and other educational projects.
- ADVOCACY- To advocate on behalf of adults and children
who suffer from a serious mental illness and to act as a catalyst
for a unified system of mental health services, including
managed care. To become the catalyst for the creation
of all public mental health initiatives, including treatment
and rehabilitative programs, housing and supported employment,
centered in a community-based mental health system.
To become the primary agent for quality assurance for community-based
initiatives.
- RESEARCH- Major depressive disorders are disrupting
the lives of more than 10 million Americans. More than
100,000 new cases of schizophrenia are diagnosed in the U.S.
each year. Most of these are young people, ages 16-25.
Yet less is being spent on schizophrenia research than is
being spent on diseases of the gums and teeth. NAMI
is pressing for government funding and working toward privately
funded research.
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