NAMI Hopes America's Feet Will Do the Talking

APA has a long history of collaboration with the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) on initiatives designed to educate the public and raise awareness of issues related to mental illness.

Last month APA expressed its appreciation of and support for NAMI at a kick-off event for NAMI's first fundraising walk, to be held in Washington, D.C., on November 6. It is one of 50 NAMI-Walks planned this year to raise support for NAMI programs and increase awareness of mental illness issues, said NAMI Development Director Joleen Bagwell at the luncheon.

Carolyn Robinowitz, M.D., treasurer of APA, thanked NAMI leaders and staff for their dedication and hard work. She presented NAMI Executive Director Mike Fitzpatrick with a check for $20,000 on behalf of APA, the American Psychiatric Foundation (APF), and American Psychiatric Publishing Inc. (APPI). APA was a presenting sponsor at $10,000, and APF and APPI were gold sponsors at $5,000 each.

“APA contributed to this walk not only to show support for NAMI, but also to encourage other mental health organizations and business partners to become involved,” Robinowitz said.

She added that APA is proud that all the proceeds from the walkathon will be used to fund mental health programs. “The more research, education, and funds we can support to help fight for and improve the lives of those suffering most, the better we will be as a community and as a nation.”

Robinowitz observed that APA and NAMI have collaborated for many years on the annual Mental Illness Awareness Week, which was held this year from October 3 to 9 (see Original article: page 20). “APA recognizes that developing and maintaining partnerships through outreach initiatives with diverse organizations is an effective way to share knowledge and advocate for the millions of Americans suffering from mental illnesses, including substance abuse disorders, every year.”

Robinowitz continued, “Such partnerships lay the groundwork for sustainable, long-term collaboration with allied health organizations and friends in the business community with the shared goal of raising public awareness of important mental health issues.”

That spirit of collaboration became the driving force for APA to become involved in the first NAMIWalks event, in Washington, D.C., Robinowitz mentioned. “Now we have the chance to prove that America's most political city can rally around such a universal health concern.”

Robinowitz is a member of the Washington Psychiatric Society and will lead its team in the D.C. walk. APA staff also plan to participate.

Numerous other 5-K NAMIWalks already planned throughout the United States demonstrate a real support base for mental health in other major metropolitan areas.

Further information on NAMIWalks is posted online at<www.nami.org/template.cfm?section_namiwalks>.▪