Mental Health Awareness Month Fund

Nami

The National Alliance on Mental Illness improves the lives of those with mental illness and their families through advocacy, education, support, and public awareness. Their education program features classes for people with mental illness as well as stakeholders such as family members, significant others, and providers. They also provide peer support to those seeking guidance and resources via their 24-hour HelpLine.

Mental Health America

Mental Health America promotes mental health and mental illness prevention through advocacy, education, research, and integrative services. Their efforts are guided by their “B4Stage4” philosophy, which posits that mental health conditions should be treated before they reach a critical point. Through education and outreach, they help people of all ages better understand prevention, early identification, and intervention of mental illness. Their network of over 200 affiliates works with state and local policymakers to develop policies that promote mental health, including Medicaid expansion, integrating mental health services into primary healthcare. They offer peer-to-peer support through their Peer Partners Program and provide resources on becoming a Peer Support Specialist.

The Jed Foundation

The Jed Foundation promotes mental health and suicide prevention by equipping teens and young adults with resources to help themselves and each other. They reach individual teens and young adults through media campaigns and partnerships. For example, they partnered with MTV Entertainment Group to found the Mental Health is Health initiative, an online resource that provides tips, tools, and support for teens and young adults navigating new experiences. The charity also works together with high schools and colleges to strengthen their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs. For example, their school support programs, JED Campus and JED High School, integrate systems, programs, and policies to promote mental wellness and a culture of support.

Child Mind Institute Inc

The Child Mind Institute helps children with mental health and learning challenges through three initiative areas: care, education, and science. Their care initiative offers evaluation and treatment for a wide variety of mental health and learning concerns. Their education initiative includes the Family Resource Center and School and Community Programs, which provide families and communities with resources to promote children’s mental health. Their science initiative drives research into causes of mental health and learning challenges in developing brains and adapts treatments accordingly.