Mental health support that meets people where they are
From crisis to recovery, we help people find care, navigate the system, and work to make that system better.
About NAMI Chicago
For people experiencing mental health challenges and the loved ones who support them, accessing care can feel overwhelming, confusing, and out of reach. NAMI Chicago is here to change that.
Founded in 1979, we are one of the largest affiliates of the National Alliance on Mental Illness in the country, providing 24/7 support and serving more than 40,000 people each year.
We meet people in moments of critical need with immediate, compassionate support, and we stay with them beyond that first call. Through our Helpline, 988 crisis services, care coordination, and peer support, we help individuals and families navigate the system and live thriving lives of recovery.
But we don’t stop there. We also work alongside our partners to address gaps in the mental health system and hold decision-makers accountable, advocate for fair policies, break down stigma and shift how our communities and institutions think about and respond to mental health.
Our vision
Our mission
Our values
Act with Compassion: With profound respect for the courage of those who trust in us, we welcome every opportunity to support these brave individuals. With empathy, we meet people where they are and we affirm, “You are worthy of love. You are loved.”
Work with Integrity: We are open, transparent and unwavering. We are an honest broker of the mental health care system whose purpose is clear: Fierce advocacy for our community.
Promote Connection: We believe in the power of human relationships. We actively foster and build loving communities. We open minds and hearts through education. We recognize our own limitations and seek out like-minded nonprofit, civic, and business partners.
Anti-racism statement
NAMI Chicago’s core values are trust, support, collaboration, and equity. Racism and structural inequities in our city and country have caused deep pain, loss, and trauma. As an organization, we acknowledge this, and as individuals, we experience and witness it.
NAMI Chicago vows to act and advocate. Apathy and silence are not our response. We understand that opposing racism is not the same as promoting inclusion. For our entire community, NAMI Chicago will be a vocal opponent of systemic racism and the inherent biases that allow it to continue. Guided by our values and the vision of a safe and well city, we are deeply committed to creating sustainable structures to not just fight racism but foster a truly equitable society.
We vow to amplify the voices and influence of those who have experienced racism and trauma and who are asking for resources to heal. We vow to keep learning and growing together and to always be listening. We vow to continue to be transparent with our community about our work and values. We commit to anti-racism in our hiring and organizational practices, partnerships, and advocacy priorities.
Read our commitment to diversity & inclusion as part of CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion.