Mar 26, 2025
Every day, I come to work focused on one core question: What can we at NAMI do to bring more hope and healing to the millions of Americans affected by our nation’s mental health crisis? We’ve made important strides in expanding programs, reaching more people who need support, and breaking down stigma. But we know the work is far from over.
Today, one in five adults and one in six youth ages 6-17 experience a mental illness each year. On average, there is an 11-year gap between when symptoms first appear and when someone receives care. Nearly 40 percent of Americans still see mental health issues as less serious than physical conditions, and 30-40 percent cite cost as a major obstacle to treatment.
These are staggering numbers—and they drive our work at NAMI every day. At a critical time when funding is uncertain and hard-won progress in mental health coverage and parity is at risk, our role has never been more vital.
To meet this moment, we launched a five-year strategic plan with three clear goals: ensuring people prioritize their mental health, get help early, and receive the best possible care. To make that happen, we’re focused on removing three major roadblocks: stigmatization of mental health conditions, lack of mental health care and support that people can access, and the high costs of getting mental health treatment.
This roadmap gives us clarity—but it’s how we bring it to life that matters most.
Our path forward may shift with the landscape, but our destination remains unchanged. Together with our alliance of more than 650 affiliates and state organizations, we will keep expanding our reach—bringing hope and help to communities large and small across this country. We will keep fighting to protect—and expand—the gains we’ve made in mental health parity and health care access, which have improved outcomes and saved lives. We will elevate public awareness to break down stigma and open more doors to support, because every person affected by mental health conditions deserves to be surrounded by a community that cares. And we will continue to lead with bold, innovative initiatives that move us farther, faster—because the need is urgent, and the time is now.
At NAMI, we know lasting change is fueled by shared purpose and collective commitment. As the proverb goes: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. And we’re going far—together.
That spirit of unity is what will guide us in the months and years ahead. We will stay true to our values—that every person deserves access to quality, affordable mental health care, and that no one should ever feel ashamed or afraid to seek help.
We remain committed to reaching the people who need us most—from people with serious mental illnesses, to youth, communities of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans and servicemembers, and any person who faces systemic barriers to care. When we say we want everyone to prioritize mental health, get help early, and receive the best possible care, we mean it.
In these challenging times, as we face significant headwinds, we have a fundamental choice: We can retreat and hunker down, or we can lean in and push forward.
At NAMI, we’re leaning in. We’re pushing forward. We’re going to continue fighting for what’s right. And working together, I know we’ll win.
Sincerely,
Daniel H. Gillison, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer
