NAMI Greater Milwaukee

NAMI Greater Milwaukee is a non-profit community-based, self-help, support, education and advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of those with mental illness, their families, and those touched by mental illness

Night For NAMI silent auction fund-raiser; NAMI WALKS For The Mind of America (three-mile lakefront walk); NAMI Greater Milwaukee Banquet; Festival of Geel

NAMI of Greater Milwaukee was an outgrowth of the 1970's consumer movement. The families of mentally ill persons were tired of being made to feel responsible for their family member's mental illness. Families, they said, were as much victims of the illness as is the person who has the brain disorder. They felt victimized by mental health professionals who seemed to blame them and at the same time refused to respond to their pleas for treatment for their family member. The families wanted to be seen in a fair and accurate light and began to assert their needs, just as other devalued groups were doing.

The organization revised its mission in 1991 to include the offering of direct services to consumers. It added a minority service access program, and a helpline and upgraded its newsletter to be a conduit for information on education, advocacy, legislation and research. NAMI GM founded “The Consumer Satisfaction Team” and “Our Space,” a consumer club.

NAMI Greater Milwaukee is dedicated to eradicating the stigma attached to the designation "mentally ill," and providing educational tools to thousands of Milwaukee consumers and family members who request only to be treated as any other member of society would expect to be treated.