In this episode, NAMI CEO Dan Gillison explores NAMI's accomplishments throughout 2025 in conversation with retiring Chief Innovation Officer Darcy Gruttadaro and Chief Advocacy Officer Hannah Wesolowski. Together, they discuss growth in NAMI's initiatives focused on youth mental health, success in our advocacy efforts, and the importance of our grassroots community. Listeners will also hear about the significant amount of bipartisan support for mental health policies, as well as the ongoing challenges that remain in the mental health landscape. Finally, Dan, Darcy, and Hannah reflect on what gives them hope and helps them continue working toward mental health equity and increased access to mental health care.
As students head back to classrooms this month, discover all that NAMI's Back to School resources can offer. Visit NAMI's Back to School resource hub for more ways to connect with young people heading back to school and support them through their new routines. Check out nami.org/BackToSchool to learn more.
You can find additional episodes of this NAMI podcast and others at nami.org/podcast.
"Hope Starts With Us" is a podcast by NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It is hosted by NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr.
Co-executive produced by Traci Coulter and Connor Larsen.
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(00:00):
We continue to see strong investmentsin mental health at the federal level,
(00:03):
despitea really tough funding environment
where a lot of otherthings are seeing cuts.
I think that's dueto the bipartisan nature,
because no family hasn'tbeen impacted by our opioid crisis
or a substance use crisis,or mental health or suicide crisis.
There is no familythat hasn't been impacted by that.
Welcome to Hope StartsWith Us, a podcast
(00:23):
by NAMI, the National Allianceon Mental Illness.
I'm your host, Dan Gillison,NAMI's CEO.
NAMI started this podcast becausewe believe that hope starts with us.
Hope starts with ustalking about mental health.
Hope starts with us making informationaccessible.
Hope starts with us providing resourcesand practical advice.
(00:44):
Hope startswith us sharing our stories,
and hope startswith us breaking the stigma.
If you or a loved one is strugglingwith a mental health condition
and have been looking for hope,we made this podcast for you.
Hope starts with all of us.
Hope is a collective.
We hope that each episodewith each conversation
(01:04):
brings you into that collectiveso you know you are not alone.
Now we have two wonderful guests today,and really, we want to look at NAMI
in the perspective of NAMI 2025and what we're looking forward to
in 2026.
So our guests are Darcy Gruttadaro,our Chief Innovation Officer,
(01:28):
and Hannah Wesolowski,our Chief Advocacy Officer.
And I said, Chief Advocacy Officer,let me make sure I get that correct.
So this is going to be a conversationwith two incredible executives
who have done, some, some substantialwork this year in moving NAMI forward.
And we really would loveto get their perspectives on 2025.
(01:51):
So as we do that,I'll start out in alphabetical order
and I'll go with Darcy firstand just say, Darcy, what projects
feel like NAMI'sbiggest accomplishments in 2025?
Thank you.
Dan, it's really a pleasure to be hereand to share accomplishments
because there have been so many ata time that's been pretty challenging.
(02:13):
So I would say the team that I workwith, I'll start there,
focuses on youth and young adultissues, workplace mental health,
cross-cultural innovationand engagement, mental health equity.
And we added some innovationpipeline this year to really focus on
making sure we were engagingin the most high impact, most,
(02:34):
opportunisticfor these times--initiatives.
So, I would say, very proud of workwe are doing to address the youth
mental health crisis.
We are putting outmore and more resources
for the school community,knowing that's where children are.
We are partneringwith community organizations
(02:55):
that work directlywith children and families,
and within the cross-culturalinnovation and engagement space.
We really focused this yearon community conversations.
So especially in the BlackAfrican ancestry community and Latino
Hispanic communities and SouthAsian communities, and we are adding
(03:16):
Native or Indigenous communities.
So a lot of community conversationsto build trust,
to really get a bigger focuson mental health
and awareness in communitiesthat can often be marginalized.
And then in the workplacemental health space,
recognizing 130 million Americans work.
So what an important placeto meet people where they are.
(03:36):
And we know businessesincreasingly see mental health
as a business imperative.
So I'm very proud of the workwe're doing.
I'm also very proud in 2025that we are really connecting
what have been our more traditionalNAMI programs like Family to Family,
like NAMI Basics, like Endingthe Silence to the newer initiative.
(03:58):
So really recognizinghow do we bring innovation
to what has historically beenour traditional programs,
to really think about new waysto meet people with information
they need, raising awareness,education and more.
So we can get at what youmentioned, Dan, which is stigma,
which remains a barrier.
NAMI's made a huge amount of progresson stigma
(04:20):
by being in communitiesacross the country.
650 organizationsare really on the ground
working with NAMI at a national level,at a state level, at a local level,
to make surewe're meeting the needs of people.
So really proud of the work we've done,really proud of the connection
we've made.
We certainly work with the governmentrelations, policy and advocacy
(04:43):
powerhouse at NAMI.
So that's a moment of pride as well.
I came from the policy areaand Hannah and her team--
I'm going to turn it over to Hannahbecause
they have just done an outstanding jobat a very challenging time.
So just can't say enough abouthow great it's been to collaborate.
So as you turn it over to Hannahand that's a great handoff,
(05:04):
just stay postedbecause I'm going to come back to you
to actually elaborate and buildoff of your body of work in 2025:
NAMI NextGen, Youthand Young Adults, the faith-based work.
So I want to come backand have you elaborate.
So just know thatwe'll pivot back to you
after we go to Hannahto ask the same question.
And thank you so much, Darcy.
(05:26):
Hannah, the same questionis, you know, thinking about NAMI 2025,
in terms of what you've done, GRPA,what did 2025 look like
and what would you sayare your biggest accomplishments?
Yeah, thanks, Dan,and thanks for those kind words, Darcy.
I want to congratulate Darcyand her team
(05:47):
for all the great work this yearbecause I really see
government relations and the innovationteam as hand in hand.
You know, we're looking atsystemic changes, whereas,
the innovation team is really lookingat meeting people where they are
and giving us the information to knowwhat policies need to be addressed,
and how we can change thingsat the systemic level
(06:08):
while they're actually doingthe great work
on the ground and helping people inso many communities across the country.
So very grateful for that partnership.
And, you know, it's been a tough year.
There's been a lot of changes,and it's been a pretty fast and furious
year in terms of what's happeningat the federal level in particular.
But there are some positives,and I think it's really important
that we celebratewhat has been positive.
(06:31):
First, I'll say NAMI advocatessent over 200,000 messages
to Congress this year.
200,000.
And that just speaksto the strength of our grassroots.
We don't sit byand wait for things to happen to us.
We want to inform those changes,and we want to make sure
our policymakers knowthe impact of the decisions
(06:52):
they're making.
And I think that's something everyoneinvolved with NAMI should be proud of.
All of those contacts, hundredsand hundreds of meetings by our NAMI
leaders with members of Congressthroughout the year this year,
really, people did not sit byand let changes just occur.
They were vocal and, you know,no one has ever accused
(07:12):
any NAMI advocate of being quiet.
And, I think that is just incredibleto see the strength of our alliance.
We did see Medicaid changesthat are really concerning
that'll be hitting usin the next year or two.
But because of that advocacy,it could have been so much worse.
And I want people to remember that.
(07:34):
We have a lot of work to do,and we're still working to minimize
the impact of those changes.
But because advocates stood upand were vocal,
we did limits the impact of some of thewidescale change within the Medicaid
program that could have happened.
And we also sawsmall pockets of success
(07:54):
working with our officesand science and research,
we were able to get changesto clozapine, which, treats,
treatment-resistant schizophreniaand has been life changing for
the people who have benefited from it.
But there were really significantbarriers that made it hard
for people to accessand collaborating ears long work,
(08:15):
we were really successfulearlier this year in getting rid
of some of those barriers.
So people who will benefit from, usingclozapine
will not have the same type of barrierswe had before.
You know, things like that,we have to celebrate, especially
during these difficult times.
You know, and Darcy talked about youthand young adults.
We, working with Darcy's team,we've published a
(08:38):
mental health legislationmap looking at school mental health
requirements across the country.
So we put that out this year.
So as we advocate and bring programsto schools, we also know
what are their requirementsand how does NAMI fit into those
opportunities across the country?
So there's so much work being doneat the state and local level
(08:59):
by NAMI leaders.
And you know, that work will continue.
And, you know, despite some difficultchanges this year in the policy
environment, a lot of positivityto celebrate as well.
Hannah, thank you so much.
And I know that,I know we're talking about 2025,
but I want to go backand kind of reflect, in terms of,
(09:19):
in our spaceand in the work that we do,
two years ago,you and your team, in partnership
with another organization,worked to actually launch the Senate
Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus.
And I'm bringing that upbecause of the operative phrase
in there, "bipartisan."Could you talk a little bit
about your work in GRPAand what you and your team do
(09:42):
on the Hill from the bipartisan lens?
Yeah,that's such an important point, Dan.
You know, we always talk about,NAMI doesn't care about your politics.
That's--you know, mental illness impacts
everyone from every walk of life.
And mental healthis actually one of the few strongly
bipartisan issues, in the policy space.
(10:03):
It's something that Republicans,Democrats, Independents
care aboutand want to do something about.
And so these bipartisan mental healthcaucus, both in the Senate
and in the House, are really importantto make sure
that we're putting forwardsolutions that can pass,
that can make a difference.
And we continue to seestrong investments in mental health
at the federal level, despitea really tough funding environment or
(10:24):
a lot of other things are seeing cuts.
You know, mental healthhas been really stable.
And so I think that's due tothe bipartisan nature because no family
hasn'tbeen impacted by our opioid crisis
or a substance use crisisor mental health or suicide crisis.
There is no familythat hasn't been impacted by that,
and that includes members of Congress.
(10:45):
They truly do care about that.
And we saw that just earlierthis month, NAMI hosted
a year-end celebration on Capitol Hill.
We had executive directorsfrom across the country in town,
and we had members from both partiescome and speak at that event,
and be really openabout their own personal stories
and their families personal stories.
(11:06):
And that just speaksto the power of this issue.
And, I think the power of the NAMIalliance, that's a safe space
that members of Congress come and sharethings that are so deeply personal,
because that's who we are at NAMI.
There you go.
Yes, that is who we are at NAMI.
And we say, you know,we want to meet people where they are,
and we want to make sure people knowthey are not alone.
(11:28):
That includes our elected officials because they are family members as well.
So thank you, Hannah.
And Darcy, I want to come back to youand just ask you about,
you know,as we think about all of the different,
communities, if you will, that,your team worked in and worked with,
from the workplace mental healthto the faith-based work to the youth
(11:51):
and young adults, to NAMI Next Gen,to, colleges and universities, to
ending the silence in high schoolsand colleges.
Just wantedto kind of give you the opportunity to
walk us through a little bitabout the ecosystem
of what your team did this yearand to give you
some opportunity to kind of elaborateon any of that work.
(12:14):
I was very much impressedwith NAMI Next Gen,
and we say nextgeneration is who we're talking about.
And I think everyone knows next genand that group of young people.
We also say, people don't carehow much you know
until they know how much you care.
And you and your teamhave brought in, consistently,
and I think this was the fourth cohort,a group of young adults
(12:35):
who really demonstrate they care, so,and demonstrated in the work they do.
So would you talk a little bit moreabout our faith-based work and,
you know, some of the other workthat you and your team did in 2025.
Sure.
I mean, I love thatyou remind us often, Dan,
(12:56):
nothing about us without us and that iswhat led you in leading NAMI
to say we need a young cohort of peoplewho come and are part-time employees.
We actually invest in themjoining NAMI for one year,
a one-year term, the NAMI NextGen group is so impressive.
We have routinely gotten for ten slots,upwards of 500 to 700 applicants,
(13:17):
so this is really a signthat the younger generation
is ready to step up.
And what do they do?
They advise us in key areas.
They review our materials.
They talk with us about how we can bestreach and connect with young people.
What kinds of languageshould we be using?
(13:37):
What kinds of programsshould we be using?
We've sent them to Capitol Hillwith Hannah on her team.
We've had them as keynotespeakers at federal agencies.
They are such an impressiveyoung group,
and it really goes to NAMI's commitmentto young people.
And we are starting our fifth cohort.
We just acceptedand notified ten more young people.
(14:00):
And imitationis the highest form of flattery.
We're seeing colleague organizationsnow who are starting their own youth
and young adult groups.
So I think we're really on to somethinghere in our fifth year ongoing.
Also, we--our NAMIon campus program
has more than doubled in 2025.
So we are over 400 clubs.
(14:20):
We've extended it to high schoolsknowing that mental illness
starts-- 50% of mental illnessesstart by age 14,
and, 75% by age 25.
So we know these are conditionsthat start very young in life.
We also know that studentsat the high school
and college level are very interestedin getting engaged.
(14:41):
We see that through NAMI next genand the application process,
but we also see that through our clubdevelopment program.
And we did work with the Universityof Chicago, their NORC group
on research in 2025 to really betterunderstand, how effective is it?
What's our impact?
What does that look like?
And we saw very favorable resultsfrom that.
(15:04):
We also saw thingswe can work on to make it better.
That's what the innovation's all about.
It's about critically looking at NAMI'swork and saying, are we doing this
in the best way possible?
What we learned is that our NAMIon-campus organizations and clubs
have been--clubs, I should say, notorganizations-- have been very good
at raising awarenessand really helping to reduce stigma.
(15:26):
The other beautiful thingabout NAMI on campus is
this is community connected.
So this is about our stateand affiliates
working with these students,working with these clubs.
This is not a top-downfrom NAMI National.
This is a community activity.
So that's been really excitingto see the expansion,
to see the research done on it.
(15:47):
And also we just finished doingSharing Hope Community
Conversations on 53 HBCUand other university campuses.
This is about really getting studentstalking more
in communities that have not alwaysbeen open about mental health,
talking about mentalhealth and well-being, understanding
(16:11):
what are the early warning signs,what should I look for
in myself and my friends on campus?
This was a huge opportunityto really continue eradicating stigma
where stigma can sometimes runvery high in diverse communities.
And this is particularly importantas we see
the nation really talkingmore about DEI.
(16:33):
We've seen executive ordersthat are rolling back
funding for programsthat have historically been
importantto diversity, equity, and inclusion.
So this is a very important timefor us to be having conversations
on HBCU campuses.
So a lot happening.
There's a lot of excitement.
We really--we're rolling out in early2026--to Hannah's point,
(16:57):
we now know that states are legislatingthat schools address mental health.
We are rolling out in 2026 a new middleschool mental health curriculum,
and wedeveloped this in consultation
with researchers,first at the University of Texas,
now at the University of Oregon.
We did a pilot, as we always do,to make sure what we've developed
(17:20):
is effectiveand meets our goals and objectives.
And in fact,our pilot was highly successful.
So we will have a middle schoolmental health curriculum
so teachers understand better howto have conversations with students.
And middle schoolis such a critically important time.
What we know is we have a youth mentalhealth crisis, rising suicide
(17:42):
rates, rising ER visits, rising crisesamong families not knowing
where to turn, and turning to NAMI.
And I'm hoping Dan, you'll talk aboutsome of our HelpLine numbers,
because what we've seen atNAMI is we are the
go to resource for so many familiesat a really increasing rate.
So I'll stop there.
Hopefully I covered the thingsyou had in mind too.
Yes you did.
(18:03):
And as you mentioned HelpLine.
You know, we've seen our numbersgo up by over
70% year over year in 2025,in terms of people reaching out to us
and calling our helpline.
The other thing that we've done iswe've diversified the helpline.
So, you know, had a young personthat came to me, about a year, maybe
18 months ago and said, Mr.
Gillison, may I speak to you? And Isaid, sure. They said, well, you know,
(18:26):
don't getoffended, but when I call the helpline,
it sounds like I'm talking to youor my dad.
And I said, what what do you mean?
He says, well,if you're looking to get young people
to call the helpline,they need to hear a voice
that they can relate toand sounds like them
and not their uncle or their dador their mom or their aunt.
I said, okay, well,let's think about this.
(18:47):
And so we actuallybeta tested, a young adult--
youth and young adult helplineand then we actually launched it.
So nowwe have our traditional helpline,
we have a youth and young adulthelpline and-- option, excuse me.
And then we have a caregiver, familycaregiver option
which we launchedon the 17th of November, of 2025.
(19:10):
So we are reallydiversifying this helpline
because we're seeing the need grow.
The need has grown, as I mentioned,over 70, 71% increase
in calls to our helpline in 2025.
So Darcy, thank you for that.
And I also want to mention something,build on something that Darcy said,
I want to flip it to another community,the faith-based community.
(19:33):
Our faith-based leaders,be they rabbis, Imams,
Baptist ministers, priest,Episcopalian, Presbyterian--
it doesn't matter.
What mattersis that for years, for decades,
they've been the first respondersin communities.
And that is not in absenceof our law enforcement community,
our emergency management community,that is talking about community
(19:53):
to community in terms of trust.
And where does, family gowhen they're trying to figure out
what's going on with a loved one?
Many times it's our faith-based leadersthat first contact
where they feel comfortable saying,there's something that's happening
and I don't know what I am seeing.
Can you help me?
So we're trying to make surethat in our faith-based work, we are,
(20:15):
you know, acknowledging that.
And then we're also looking in termsof our
emergency management community,and I'll flip this to Hannah,
something that Hannahand her team are doing.
One of our initiativesand activations is called Reimagining
Crisis Response and 988.
And Hannah, you've done so muchwork, and your team's done
(20:36):
so much work in 2025, but couldwould you speak to Reimagining
Crisis Response and 988 for a minuteand, Darcy, I'll come back to you
because we want to talk aboutsome things that are occurring
for you in the futureand what it means to us
and what you're hoping for us.
So I just wanted to give youthat as a future question
(20:57):
that's coming your way.
Hannah, would you, talkabout Reimagining Crisis Response
and 988,and the work we're doing there?
Yeah.
This has been a multiyear effort.
I think starting back in 2018,we were advocating for a national
three-digit line for people in mentalhealth and suicide crisis.
(21:19):
And Congresspassed legislation to create that.
Back in 2020, President Trump signed itinto law, and it launched in 2022.
And that's 988, the National Suicideand Crisis Lifeline.
So back in 2021, before this waseven online, we knew that 988 is great,
but it's only as good as the crisiscontinuum of care in every community.
(21:43):
988 is an entry point.
We need other crisis services.
And so that's when we launched,Reimagining Crisis Response
and really trying to bringtogether national partners to
continue topush this long term effort
to make sure every single communityhas someone to call, someone
to respond, and a safe place for help.
(22:04):
And, you know, more and morecommunities have it, but not enough.
And so this is,this is a continued priority.
You know, I'll say in the last year,we've seen some big wins.
You know, we were pushing for,georouting for 988.
And that simply means thatwhen you contact 988, you're
connected to the nearest call center.
(22:24):
None of your personal informationor your exact physical
location is transmitted,but that you get to local help.
So if you need more help,that can be provided over the phone,
that can be made available to you.
So, in 2024, we succeeded in gettingthe Federal Communications
Commission to pass that for calls.
But this year we celebrated,after a lot of advocacy,
(22:48):
also getting that in placefor text messages.
So people can text to 988.
And now we're in a processof making sure that when you text
to 988,you're connected to local resources.
So there's improvements like that.
Just this month, the president signedinto law the Support Act, which among
many other programs included the 988Cybersecurity Act, which will make sure
(23:11):
that we have extra protections in placeso that 988 doesn't go down.
We've had a few day-long outages with988 because of some security issues.
And we don't want that to ever happen.
We want to make sure when somebodyneeds help, that's available.
So we still have much work to do,but we have these milestones
that we can celebrate.
And every day we make the systema little bit stronger.
(23:34):
And we're doing thatbecause it takes all of us.
And that's what Reimagine Crisis is.
It's bringing togetherlots of stakeholders.
We have over 50 national partners,many in the mental health space,
but many outside of the mental healthspace as well,
because it really does impactevery corner of our community.
So we'll keep prioritizing that,and working to build on crisis
response in every community.
(23:57):
But there's a lot to celebrateand there's a
lot more that's available todaythan, you know, just a year or two ago.
Yeah, and this is where we want youto stay hopeful.
To everyone that's listeningor watching in terms of 988,
I would love for youto reflect back on 911.
And 911 has only been around about 54,maybe 55 years.
So as you think about 988 andthe maturation of it, it's very young.
(24:22):
And to Hannah's point,it continues to evolve and continues
to get better.
So we're going to stay the course,and we want you to be aware of it
and to make sure you're,looking at, what this needs
to look like in your community.
And, making sure that you reach outto us, and our website,
for any questions that you might have,and we'll make sure
(24:43):
that we put the linkson this message here.
One of the things that I wanted to alsosay, Hannah, is that when I first
started going up to the Hill with youand your team,
it's very interestinghow it's evolved, where we talk about
reducing the stigma.
(25:03):
We had elected officialsthat would wait
until the end of the meeting and say,hey, Dan, could you
could you stay back?
And they would talk to me in the backroom about a family situation.
Now they are actually talkingin the meetings with their staffs
in the room,and they're being open about
what their family member or,something that they may know
(25:25):
about that they've been navigatingfrom the standpoint of mental health.
So, you know,kudos to you and your team
because you're absolutely addressingthe stigma.
You're reducing the stigma.
And I think in 2025,if my memory serves me correctly, there
were, what, 15 visits to each officeor something like that, Hannah?
Well, every member of Congresshas heard from NAMI advocates
at least 15 times.
(25:47):
But we have met with about two thirdsof congressional offices,
either staff have or NAMI leadershave this year.
So we've covered a lot of groundand had those direct conversations
to make sure one, everyone knows thatNAMI is a resource because constituents
are always reaching outto congressional offices for help
when they or a loved one are in crisisor can't find services.
(26:10):
So we want them to knowthat NAMI is a resource.
All of our local NAMIs are a resource,but also to make sure that lived
experience is part of the conversation.
That's who we are.
And we need to make surethat any policy that,
aims to supportor help the mental health community,
that people with lived experienceare part of that conversation.
(26:30):
And so that's whatwe're bringing to the Hill every day.
Thank you, Hannah.
And again, congratulations on the work.
And Darcy, I want to come to youand ask you a, you know,
kind of detailed question in a way,and then open question another way.
And that is this, that, you willbe retiring at the end of this year.
Your workactually goes over two decades,
(26:55):
in terms of in this spaceand with NAMI.
What have you seen fromwhen you started to now,
what things did you touch asyou've been matriculating through NAMI?
What is your hope for NAMIinto the future?
Just, if you could just kind ofgive us a lens
into your perspective on, first of all,what did it look like?
(27:18):
"It," the mental health spacewhen you came in.
And, you know,I'm not trying to make you feel
a senior or whatever,but a couple of decades ago.
And what do you see it to be now?
And what's your hope for itin the future?
Yeah,I mean, I think the, the biggest thing
from when I first came ina couple decades ago was
(27:38):
not-- a lack of recognition thatthese are conditions that start early.
So all the work on youthand young adults, from an advocacy
perspective,from a program perspective,
from a resource perspective, that isreally exciting and so important.
And I think NAMI'smade such an important impact.
(27:58):
I would say over the last ten yearsfor sure,
a steady, increase, but really--and when I came back three years ago,
I was so impressedwith the level of commitment that NAMI
had made to youth and young adults.
I think the 988 workthat Hannah leads
has been so transformational.
(28:21):
It's very-- in a sense, it'svery symbolic at the onset,
but the work that Hannah's donein pulling groups together
to really work together, which in themental health space is not always easy,
but really to work together,all rowing in the same direction
on something so critically importantto acknowledge that we need
a separate number for these conditionsbecause they're so common
(28:44):
and because they impact so many.
I would say NAMI'swork from a communication perspective,
the fact that we have,I believe, around 80% of shared media,
I'm not sure I'musing exactly the right language,
but NAMI's place in the media worldwhen it comes to how much the media
(29:05):
outlets rely on us for information.
Recognize that we are vastwith 650 organizations,
that we really understandwhat's going on the ground,
that they turn to usas a reliable resource.
I think, too, very impressivewith our alliance relations team
(29:28):
and how they are workingwith the field to help strengthen
the alliance in critical ways.
Because it's not easy to run a smallnonprofit out there at the local level.
Many of our state organizationsare incredibly impressive,
and doing such important work on statelegislative issues and more.
But it is not easy to do it,especially with disruption and change.
(29:50):
So strengthening the alliance at alllevels
of NAMI is so critically important.
And I would also sayour strategic partnerships.
I know, Dan, you've often saidpartnerships are a force multiplier.
And they are.
We cannot do this work alone.
And the partnershipswe've made in the private sector,
the partnershipswe've made in the nonprofit sector
(30:10):
with faith communities, really thinkingvery strategically around
who we should partner withso that we can ensure that people know
who NAMI is. Whatwe don't like to hear is people saying,
I wish I knew about NAMI before.
So I would say the factthat we have been so deliberate
(30:31):
about getting our name out there,creating the right strategic alliances
and partnerships,really working with the field
and learning from the fieldat the national level.
We don't know all the thingshappening on the ground.
So the fact that we havethis collaboration with state
and affiliates so we can really learnwhat are the critical issues.
What are you seeing in your community,is so important to the work we do.
(30:55):
So we are never in an ivory tower.
We are always have our fingeron the pulse
because we have that connection.
It's the feel that makes NAMI strongand we do not--we never forget that.
Let me say that.
We always remember thatwe are grounded in community activity.
So I came back and looked at NAMIand I came back after
(31:17):
17 years, came back three years ago,and NAMI was like a different place
in the sense that we had just grownin all the right ways.
And our impact is clear.
And I believe the roadand the path forward for
NAMI is incredibly strongand really exciting.
And I think good, strongleadership is really makes
(31:37):
all the difference.
And the fact that we workedso well with the field
is really so incredibly encouraging.
Darcy, thank you very much. Andwe're excited for your next move
in terms ofjust having some time
to invest in family and to relax.
(31:59):
So, you know, we wish you the very bestand want to celebrate you.
And thank youfor the service of your time with us
and what you've given to NAMI so.
Can I add something, Dan?
I would love you to add somethingif you'd like to. Yes.
So Darcy talked about just the focuson youth and young adults and certainly
(32:21):
from the NAMI perspective,much of that is thanks to Darcy.
Before she left for herfive-year hiatus from NAMI,
she led so much of our work, helpedstart
the NAMI on-campus program,did so much great work.
And, you know, many peoplewon't remember, but we used to not have
(32:41):
these programs called CoordinatedSpecialty Care across the country.
These are programs.
They are wraparound servicesfor young people experiencing
first episodes of psychosis.
Highly evidence-based, amazing.
And Darcy led the charge at the--fromsubject matter level
and from the advocacy levelto make sure that those were funded
(33:03):
through the Mental HealthBlock Grant program.
And in 2008, there werea couple of programs on the West Coast,
and there are well over 300 of theseprograms across the country.
And Darcy led that effort.
She has done so much in this space.
And I just want to recognizethat we have only grown
to recognize youth and young adultsand make them part of our organization
(33:26):
and a core part of what we do,thanks to Darcy's leadership on that.
So I just, I want to recognize all thatshe has done.
An incredible legacythat she's leaving us with.
Hannah, thank you so much.
And, you know,we talk about peer to peer.
There's no greater recognitionand acknowledgment
than when it's peer to peer.
(33:46):
So thank you for sharing that.
And really walking us throughfrom the early days
to now what it looks like in sharingthis wonderful
insight in terms of the evolutionof what Darcy's
accomplished over her time here.
And to Darcy, again, congratulations.
(34:07):
I think that this is just wonderful.
And thank you.
So, you know, before we conclude,we always like to ask our guests
a question at the end, and,
the world can be a difficult place,and sometimes it can be hard
to hold on to hope.
(34:28):
So we always ask our guestswhat has them hold on to hope?
Again, let's go in alphabetical order,and we'll go with Darcy.
And then Hannah.
Darcy, what has you, hold on to hold.
Thank you.
Thank you both for your kind words.
I'm really grateful.
NAMI is an incredible organizationand I feel so privileged
(34:49):
to have been here so long.
I would say holding on to hopeis about young people,
and I feel very stronglythat there are future leaders
and NAMI's commitment to our futureleaders and NAMI Next Gen and NAMI
on campus, and all the wayswe advocate for young people has me
(35:09):
and are--let me just say,too, are real commitment to diversity.
And when you look at our NAMI NextGen or NAMI Next Gen cohort,
you see that we have madea high priority of ensuring diversity.
We need to have diverse voices.
So the youth and young adultsthat are engaging with NAMI
(35:30):
at all levels, affiliate, stateand national levels
give me hope because they are thefuture of the world
and they care about mental healthand they are going to be a voice
for mental health.
And we need them.
We need them to helpsteer us in the right direction.
So for that,that makes me hold on to hope.
(35:51):
Before I pass it to Hannah,I have another question for you, Darcy.
As you go and relax for a little while,what will you be watching?
To see if we do well, We,NAMI, in 2026.
The tough questions.
Very tough.
I will be on the sidelineswatching NAMI, for sure.
(36:12):
So let's just start right there.
I would sayjust the continued commitment
to the areas that matter most.
I would like to continueto see a focus on young people,
a focus on diversity,a focus on meeting people
where they areand just to continue to see NAMI
leading on the advocacyand policy front
(36:34):
because we are out front,I think the Reimagine Crisis
has been brilliant.
Hannah and her team are super creativeand very smart about advocacy
at a difficult time.
So I will be watching NAMI navigatethese difficult waters
in the way we've been doing in 2025,and that's what I'll be watching.
(36:55):
And I have every reason to believeit will be smooth with some ripples,
because of coursethat's going to be the case,
but I can't wait to seeif the Medicaid fights and other things
that are going to be really importantto people living with,
mental health conditions.
This is what it's all about.
It is what it's all about.
And thank you for that, Darcy.
And as you know, Darcy has alludedin terms of, youth and young adults,
(37:18):
we know it's 11 years from the firstsign and inception of a mental
health issue or conditionto when that young person gets help.
So if you're talking about a 13or 14 year old,
they could be in their mid 20s.
So we want to go upstream and not waituntil they actually fall in the stream.
So that's why this is so important.
(37:39):
So thank you for that, Darcy.
And Hannah, I want to come to you.
And this has been a year for youand your team to hold on to hope.
And you did itso very well and navigated
and adjusted yourselves as you werelooking at your work.
And, you know,we could never have forecasted 2025.
(38:01):
So as we look at that and look forward,what has you
hold on to hope in 2026?
Yeah, it's an important question.
And it's one that my teamand I talk about a lot.
I'll be honest,there are times this year
where it was really hardto find that hope.
We've had really difficult news,and it has been coming
fast throughout the year.
(38:25):
But whatgives me hope and what is a constant
reminder is our grassroots.
They are out there.
They don't lose hope.
They keep fighting.
They keep advocating, and they need usto continue doing the same.
And every conversationI have with our folks on the ground
in communities across the countryreminds me how important it is
that we say in this fight,you know, I tried really hard
(38:46):
at the top of this conversationto be positive about what
positive things happened this year.
That hasn'tbeen a lot of my conversations,
and I'm doing a summary of the year.
But I do have a lot of hopebecause I believe that these advocates
are not going to give up.
They haven't given up yet.
They've been fighting for decadesand decades for better systems,
and they're going to keep fighting.
(39:09):
And I'm just proud to be alongsidethem.
Yeah. Thank you.
And what I would say isyou mentioned grassroots, and,
I just was writing some notesas you were speaking,
and it's, as you mentioned thatyou were you were trying to be very,
you know,encouraging at the very beginning,
talkingabout some of the accomplishments.
So that encouragementgoes into 2026 as well.
(39:29):
And we are the largest grassrootsmental health organization with folks
in communities in over650 communities across the US.
And I like to saywe're the DNA in that local community
because we actually listen,we have our ear to the ground
and we see what that community needs,what they're, what they're navigating.
And thenwe adapt, we adjust, and we provide.
(39:50):
And it's, filled with resiliency,adaptability, and solutions.
So, one of the groups I didn'tmention is our volunteers.
So I just wantedto mention our volunteers
because they're very importantto our work.
And as we talked about the helplineearlier,
we have volunteers that that actuallygo through the training
(40:11):
to actually providesome of our support for our helpline.
And then we have volunteersand our affiliates and in our states.
And I just wanted to call themout because they do a lot of
the heavy lifting as well.
So, to everyone, to everyonethat does this work.
Thank you for that.
And thank you for holding on to hope,holding on
(40:33):
to that encouragement, being adaptable,flexible and resilient.
We wish you the very best.
And as we get ready to close outthis wonderful session.
Can I say one thing, Dan?
I would love you to say one thing.
And I've got my Kleenex here.
Okay. No, no, no, no, wait.
I need to say something andyou're not allowed to edit this out.
(40:54):
I just want to say, too,and I am sure Hannah feels this way.
I know the whole executive teamfeels this way.
When we have a moment,that is to celebrate,
that is to be really excited about,and we've had a lot in 2025,
what Dan Gillison says is"This moment belongs to all of us."
And he is constantly givingcredit away.
(41:17):
But I, and hopefully getyou get that Kleenex out, but
the leadership of NAMIis so incredibly strong
and we are where we are todaybecause we have a CEO
who cares, who leads with heart,who understands engagement,
and who builds partnershipbecause of who he is at his core.
So leadership is everything.
(41:38):
And NAMI--this is what gives mehope, is that NAMI is being steered
by a leader who really understandspeople, the mission, and how to lead.
So I just needed to say that as I'mgetting ready to walk out the door
and I happen to know my colleaguesfeel the same.
So, I just needed to share that.
(42:00):
What a beautiful note to wrap up on.
Couldn't agree more.
Thank you, Darcy. Thank you, Hannah.
So, as we, as we wrap up,and, I just want to say
thank youto both of you, on behalf of NAMI,
on behalf of our leadership team,and to everyone.
(42:21):
This has been Hope Startswith Us, a podcast by NAMI,
the National Allianceon Mental Illness.
If you are looking for mental healthresources, you are not alone.
To connect with the NAMI helplineand find local
resources, visit NAMI.org/help.
Text "NAMI" to 62640or dial (800)-950-NAMI.
(42:42):
And that's 6264.
Or if you are experiencingan immediate suicide,
substance use, or mental health crisis,please call or text 988
to speak with a trained supportspecialist or visit 988 Lifeline Talk.
I'm Dan Gillison, your host.
We wish you the very best and be well.
We continue to see strong investmentsin mental health at the federal level,
(00:03):
despitea really tough funding environment
where a lot of otherthings are seeing cuts.
I think that's dueto the bipartisan nature,
because no family hasn'tbeen impacted by our opioid crisis
or a substance use crisis,or mental health or suicide crisis.
There is no familythat hasn't been impacted by that.
Welcome to Hope StartsWith Us, a podcast
(00:23):
by NAMI, the National Allianceon Mental Illness.
I'm your host, Dan Gillison,NAMI's CEO.
NAMI started this podcast becausewe believe that hope starts with us.
Hope starts with ustalking about mental health.
Hope starts with us making informationaccessible.
Hope starts with us providing resourcesand practical advice.
(00:44):
Hope startswith us sharing our stories,
and hope startswith us breaking the stigma.
If you or a loved one is strugglingwith a mental health condition
and have been looking for hope,we made this podcast for you.
Hope starts with all of us.
Hope is a collective.
We hope that each episodewith each conversation
(01:04):
brings you into that collectiveso you know you are not alone.
Now we have two wonderful guests today,and really, we want to look at NAMI
in the perspective of NAMI 2025and what we're looking forward to
in 2026.
So our guests are Darcy Gruttadaro,our Chief Innovation Officer,
(01:28):
and Hannah Wesolowski,our Chief Advocacy Officer.
And I said, Chief Advocacy Officer,let me make sure I get that correct.
So this is going to be a conversationwith two incredible executives
who have done, some, some substantialwork this year in moving NAMI forward.
And we really would loveto get their perspectives on 2025.
(01:51):
So as we do that,I'll start out in alphabetical order
and I'll go with Darcy firstand just say, Darcy, what projects
feel like NAMI'sbiggest accomplishments in 2025?
Thank you.
Dan, it's really a pleasure to be hereand to share accomplishments
because there have been so many ata time that's been pretty challenging.
(02:13):
So I would say the team that I workwith, I'll start there,
focuses on youth and young adultissues, workplace mental health,
cross-cultural innovationand engagement, mental health equity.
And we added some innovationpipeline this year to really focus on
making sure we were engagingin the most high impact, most,
(02:34):
opportunisticfor these times--initiatives.
So, I would say, very proud of workwe are doing to address the youth
mental health crisis.
We are putting outmore and more resources
for the school community,knowing that's where children are.
We are partneringwith community organizations
(02:55):
that work directlywith children and families,
and within the cross-culturalinnovation and engagement space.
We really focused this yearon community conversations.
So especially in the BlackAfrican ancestry community and Latino
Hispanic communities and SouthAsian communities, and we are adding
(03:16):
Native or Indigenous communities.
So a lot of community conversationsto build trust,
to really get a bigger focuson mental health
and awareness in communitiesthat can often be marginalized.
And then in the workplacemental health space,
recognizing 130 million Americans work.
So what an important placeto meet people where they are.
(03:36):
And we know businessesincreasingly see mental health
as a business imperative.
So I'm very proud of the workwe're doing.
I'm also very proud in 2025that we are really connecting
what have been our more traditionalNAMI programs like Family to Family,
like NAMI Basics, like Endingthe Silence to the newer initiative.
(03:58):
So really recognizinghow do we bring innovation
to what has historically beenour traditional programs,
to really think about new waysto meet people with information
they need, raising awareness,education and more.
So we can get at what youmentioned, Dan, which is stigma,
which remains a barrier.
NAMI's made a huge amount of progresson stigma
(04:20):
by being in communitiesacross the country.
650 organizationsare really on the ground
working with NAMI at a national level,at a state level, at a local level,
to make surewe're meeting the needs of people.
So really proud of the work we've done,really proud of the connection
we've made.
We certainly work with the governmentrelations, policy and advocacy
(04:43):
powerhouse at NAMI.
So that's a moment of pride as well.
I came from the policy areaand Hannah and her team--
I'm going to turn it over to Hannahbecause
they have just done an outstanding jobat a very challenging time.
So just can't say enough abouthow great it's been to collaborate.
So as you turn it over to Hannahand that's a great handoff,
(05:04):
just stay postedbecause I'm going to come back to you
to actually elaborate and buildoff of your body of work in 2025:
NAMI NextGen, Youthand Young Adults, the faith-based work.
So I want to come backand have you elaborate.
So just know thatwe'll pivot back to you
after we go to Hannahto ask the same question.
And thank you so much, Darcy.
(05:26):
Hannah, the same questionis, you know, thinking about NAMI 2025,
in terms of what you've done, GRPA,what did 2025 look like
and what would you sayare your biggest accomplishments?
Yeah, thanks, Dan,and thanks for those kind words, Darcy.
I want to congratulate Darcyand her team
(05:47):
for all the great work this yearbecause I really see
government relations and the innovationteam as hand in hand.
You know, we're looking atsystemic changes, whereas,
the innovation team is really lookingat meeting people where they are
and giving us the information to knowwhat policies need to be addressed,
and how we can change thingsat the systemic level
(06:08):
while they're actually doingthe great work
on the ground and helping people inso many communities across the country.
So very grateful for that partnership.
And, you know, it's been a tough year.
There's been a lot of changes,and it's been a pretty fast and furious
year in terms of what's happeningat the federal level in particular.
But there are some positives,and I think it's really important
that we celebratewhat has been positive.
(06:31):
First, I'll say NAMI advocatessent over 200,000 messages
to Congress this year.
200,000.
And that just speaksto the strength of our grassroots.
We don't sit byand wait for things to happen to us.
We want to inform those changes,and we want to make sure
our policymakers knowthe impact of the decisions
(06:52):
they're making.
And I think that's something everyoneinvolved with NAMI should be proud of.
All of those contacts, hundredsand hundreds of meetings by our NAMI
leaders with members of Congressthroughout the year this year,
really, people did not sit byand let changes just occur.
They were vocal and, you know,no one has ever accused
(07:12):
any NAMI advocate of being quiet.
And, I think that is just incredibleto see the strength of our alliance.
We did see Medicaid changesthat are really concerning
that'll be hitting usin the next year or two.
But because of that advocacy,it could have been so much worse.
And I want people to remember that.
(07:34):
We have a lot of work to do,and we're still working to minimize
the impact of those changes.
But because advocates stood upand were vocal,
we did limits the impact of some of thewidescale change within the Medicaid
program that could have happened.
And we also sawsmall pockets of success
(07:54):
working with our officesand science and research,
we were able to get changesto clozapine, which, treats,
treatment-resistant schizophreniaand has been life changing for
the people who have benefited from it.
But there were really significantbarriers that made it hard
for people to accessand collaborating ears long work,
(08:15):
we were really successfulearlier this year in getting rid
of some of those barriers.
So people who will benefit from, usingclozapine
will not have the same type of barrierswe had before.
You know, things like that,we have to celebrate, especially
during these difficult times.
You know, and Darcy talked about youthand young adults.
We, working with Darcy's team,we've published a
(08:38):
mental health legislationmap looking at school mental health
requirements across the country.
So we put that out this year.
So as we advocate and bring programsto schools, we also know
what are their requirementsand how does NAMI fit into those
opportunities across the country?
So there's so much work being doneat the state and local level
(08:59):
by NAMI leaders.
And you know, that work will continue.
And, you know, despite some difficultchanges this year in the policy
environment, a lot of positivityto celebrate as well.
Hannah, thank you so much.
And I know that,I know we're talking about 2025,
but I want to go backand kind of reflect, in terms of,
(09:19):
in our spaceand in the work that we do,
two years ago,you and your team, in partnership
with another organization,worked to actually launch the Senate
Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus.
And I'm bringing that upbecause of the operative phrase
in there, "bipartisan."Could you talk a little bit
about your work in GRPAand what you and your team do
(09:42):
on the Hill from the bipartisan lens?
Yeah,that's such an important point, Dan.
You know, we always talk about,NAMI doesn't care about your politics.
That's--you know, mental illness impacts
everyone from every walk of life.
And mental healthis actually one of the few strongly
bipartisan issues, in the policy space.
(10:03):
It's something that Republicans,Democrats, Independents
care aboutand want to do something about.
And so these bipartisan mental healthcaucus, both in the Senate
and in the House, are really importantto make sure
that we're putting forwardsolutions that can pass,
that can make a difference.
And we continue to seestrong investments in mental health
at the federal level, despitea really tough funding environment or
(10:24):
a lot of other things are seeing cuts.
You know, mental healthhas been really stable.
And so I think that's due tothe bipartisan nature because no family
hasn'tbeen impacted by our opioid crisis
or a substance use crisisor mental health or suicide crisis.
There is no familythat hasn't been impacted by that,
and that includes members of Congress.
(10:45):
They truly do care about that.
And we saw that just earlierthis month, NAMI hosted
a year-end celebration on Capitol Hill.
We had executive directorsfrom across the country in town,
and we had members from both partiescome and speak at that event,
and be really openabout their own personal stories
and their families personal stories.
(11:06):
And that just speaksto the power of this issue.
And, I think the power of the NAMIalliance, that's a safe space
that members of Congress come and sharethings that are so deeply personal,
because that's who we are at NAMI.
There you go.
Yes, that is who we are at NAMI.
And we say, you know,we want to meet people where they are,
and we want to make sure people knowthey are not alone.
(11:28):
That includes our elected officials because they are family members as well.
So thank you, Hannah.
And Darcy, I want to come back to youand just ask you about,
you know,as we think about all of the different,
communities, if you will, that,your team worked in and worked with,
from the workplace mental healthto the faith-based work to the youth
(11:51):
and young adults, to NAMI Next Gen,to, colleges and universities, to
ending the silence in high schoolsand colleges.
Just wantedto kind of give you the opportunity to
walk us through a little bitabout the ecosystem
of what your team did this yearand to give you
some opportunity to kind of elaborateon any of that work.
(12:14):
I was very much impressedwith NAMI Next Gen,
and we say nextgeneration is who we're talking about.
And I think everyone knows next genand that group of young people.
We also say, people don't carehow much you know
until they know how much you care.
And you and your teamhave brought in, consistently,
and I think this was the fourth cohort,a group of young adults
(12:35):
who really demonstrate they care, so,and demonstrated in the work they do.
So would you talk a little bit moreabout our faith-based work and,
you know, some of the other workthat you and your team did in 2025.
Sure.
I mean, I love thatyou remind us often, Dan,
(12:56):
nothing about us without us and that iswhat led you in leading NAMI
to say we need a young cohort of peoplewho come and are part-time employees.
We actually invest in themjoining NAMI for one year,
a one-year term, the NAMI NextGen group is so impressive.
We have routinely gotten for ten slots,upwards of 500 to 700 applicants,
(13:17):
so this is really a signthat the younger generation
is ready to step up.
And what do they do?
They advise us in key areas.
They review our materials.
They talk with us about how we can bestreach and connect with young people.
What kinds of languageshould we be using?
(13:37):
What kinds of programsshould we be using?
We've sent them to Capitol Hillwith Hannah on her team.
We've had them as keynotespeakers at federal agencies.
They are such an impressiveyoung group,
and it really goes to NAMI's commitmentto young people.
And we are starting our fifth cohort.
We just acceptedand notified ten more young people.
(14:00):
And imitationis the highest form of flattery.
We're seeing colleague organizationsnow who are starting their own youth
and young adult groups.
So I think we're really on to somethinghere in our fifth year ongoing.
Also, we--our NAMIon campus program
has more than doubled in 2025.
So we are over 400 clubs.
(14:20):
We've extended it to high schoolsknowing that mental illness
starts-- 50% of mental illnessesstart by age 14,
and, 75% by age 25.
So we know these are conditionsthat start very young in life.
We also know that studentsat the high school
and college level are very interestedin getting engaged.
(14:41):
We see that through NAMI next genand the application process,
but we also see that through our clubdevelopment program.
And we did work with the Universityof Chicago, their NORC group
on research in 2025 to really betterunderstand, how effective is it?
What's our impact?
What does that look like?
And we saw very favorable resultsfrom that.
(15:04):
We also saw thingswe can work on to make it better.
That's what the innovation's all about.
It's about critically looking at NAMI'swork and saying, are we doing this
in the best way possible?
What we learned is that our NAMIon-campus organizations and clubs
have been--clubs, I should say, notorganizations-- have been very good
at raising awarenessand really helping to reduce stigma.
(15:26):
The other beautiful thingabout NAMI on campus is
this is community connected.
So this is about our stateand affiliates
working with these students,working with these clubs.
This is not a top-downfrom NAMI National.
This is a community activity.
So that's been really excitingto see the expansion,
to see the research done on it.
(15:47):
And also we just finished doingSharing Hope Community
Conversations on 53 HBCUand other university campuses.
This is about really getting studentstalking more
in communities that have not alwaysbeen open about mental health,
talking about mentalhealth and well-being, understanding
(16:11):
what are the early warning signs,what should I look for
in myself and my friends on campus?
This was a huge opportunityto really continue eradicating stigma
where stigma can sometimes runvery high in diverse communities.
And this is particularly importantas we see
the nation really talkingmore about DEI.
(16:33):
We've seen executive ordersthat are rolling back
funding for programsthat have historically been
importantto diversity, equity, and inclusion.
So this is a very important timefor us to be having conversations
on HBCU campuses.
So a lot happening.
There's a lot of excitement.
We really--we're rolling out in early2026--to Hannah's point,
(16:57):
we now know that states are legislatingthat schools address mental health.
We are rolling out in 2026 a new middleschool mental health curriculum,
and wedeveloped this in consultation
with researchers,first at the University of Texas,
now at the University of Oregon.
We did a pilot, as we always do,to make sure what we've developed
(17:20):
is effectiveand meets our goals and objectives.
And in fact,our pilot was highly successful.
So we will have a middle schoolmental health curriculum
so teachers understand better howto have conversations with students.
And middle schoolis such a critically important time.
What we know is we have a youth mentalhealth crisis, rising suicide
(17:42):
rates, rising ER visits, rising crisesamong families not knowing
where to turn, and turning to NAMI.
And I'm hoping Dan, you'll talk aboutsome of our HelpLine numbers,
because what we've seen atNAMI is we are the
go to resource for so many familiesat a really increasing rate.
So I'll stop there.
Hopefully I covered the thingsyou had in mind too.
Yes you did.
(18:03):
And as you mentioned HelpLine.
You know, we've seen our numbersgo up by over
70% year over year in 2025,in terms of people reaching out to us
and calling our helpline.
The other thing that we've done iswe've diversified the helpline.
So, you know, had a young personthat came to me, about a year, maybe
18 months ago and said, Mr.
Gillison, may I speak to you? And Isaid, sure. They said, well, you know,
(18:26):
don't getoffended, but when I call the helpline,
it sounds like I'm talking to youor my dad.
And I said, what what do you mean?
He says, well,if you're looking to get young people
to call the helpline,they need to hear a voice
that they can relate toand sounds like them
and not their uncle or their dador their mom or their aunt.
I said, okay, well,let's think about this.
(18:47):
And so we actuallybeta tested, a young adult--
youth and young adult helplineand then we actually launched it.
So nowwe have our traditional helpline,
we have a youth and young adulthelpline and-- option, excuse me.
And then we have a caregiver, familycaregiver option
which we launchedon the 17th of November, of 2025.
(19:10):
So we are reallydiversifying this helpline
because we're seeing the need grow.
The need has grown, as I mentioned,over 70, 71% increase
in calls to our helpline in 2025.
So Darcy, thank you for that.
And I also want to mention something,build on something that Darcy said,
I want to flip it to another community,the faith-based community.
(19:33):
Our faith-based leaders,be they rabbis, Imams,
Baptist ministers, priest,Episcopalian, Presbyterian--
it doesn't matter.
What mattersis that for years, for decades,
they've been the first respondersin communities.
And that is not in absenceof our law enforcement community,
our emergency management community,that is talking about community
(19:53):
to community in terms of trust.
And where does, family gowhen they're trying to figure out
what's going on with a loved one?
Many times it's our faith-based leadersthat first contact
where they feel comfortable saying,there's something that's happening
and I don't know what I am seeing.
Can you help me?
So we're trying to make surethat in our faith-based work, we are,
(20:15):
you know, acknowledging that.
And then we're also looking in termsof our
emergency management community,and I'll flip this to Hannah,
something that Hannahand her team are doing.
One of our initiativesand activations is called Reimagining
Crisis Response and 988.
And Hannah, you've done so muchwork, and your team's done
(20:36):
so much work in 2025, but couldwould you speak to Reimagining
Crisis Response and 988 for a minuteand, Darcy, I'll come back to you
because we want to talk aboutsome things that are occurring
for you in the futureand what it means to us
and what you're hoping for us.
So I just wanted to give youthat as a future question
(20:57):
that's coming your way.
Hannah, would you, talkabout Reimagining Crisis Response
and 988,and the work we're doing there?
Yeah.
This has been a multiyear effort.
I think starting back in 2018,we were advocating for a national
three-digit line for people in mentalhealth and suicide crisis.
(21:19):
And Congresspassed legislation to create that.
Back in 2020, President Trump signed itinto law, and it launched in 2022.
And that's 988, the National Suicideand Crisis Lifeline.
So back in 2021, before this waseven online, we knew that 988 is great,
but it's only as good as the crisiscontinuum of care in every community.
(21:43):
988 is an entry point.
We need other crisis services.
And so that's when we launched,Reimagining Crisis Response
and really trying to bringtogether national partners to
continue topush this long term effort
to make sure every single communityhas someone to call, someone
to respond, and a safe place for help.
(22:04):
And, you know, more and morecommunities have it, but not enough.
And so this is,this is a continued priority.
You know, I'll say in the last year,we've seen some big wins.
You know, we were pushing for,georouting for 988.
And that simply means thatwhen you contact 988, you're
connected to the nearest call center.
(22:24):
None of your personal informationor your exact physical
location is transmitted,but that you get to local help.
So if you need more help,that can be provided over the phone,
that can be made available to you.
So, in 2024, we succeeded in gettingthe Federal Communications
Commission to pass that for calls.
But this year we celebrated,after a lot of advocacy,
(22:48):
also getting that in placefor text messages.
So people can text to 988.
And now we're in a processof making sure that when you text
to 988,you're connected to local resources.
So there's improvements like that.
Just this month, the president signedinto law the Support Act, which among
many other programs included the 988Cybersecurity Act, which will make sure
(23:11):
that we have extra protections in placeso that 988 doesn't go down.
We've had a few day-long outages with988 because of some security issues.
And we don't want that to ever happen.
We want to make sure when somebodyneeds help, that's available.
So we still have much work to do,but we have these milestones
that we can celebrate.
And every day we make the systema little bit stronger.
(23:34):
And we're doing thatbecause it takes all of us.
And that's what Reimagine Crisis is.
It's bringing togetherlots of stakeholders.
We have over 50 national partners,many in the mental health space,
but many outside of the mental healthspace as well,
because it really does impactevery corner of our community.
So we'll keep prioritizing that,and working to build on crisis
response in every community.
(23:57):
But there's a lot to celebrateand there's a
lot more that's available todaythan, you know, just a year or two ago.
Yeah, and this is where we want youto stay hopeful.
To everyone that's listeningor watching in terms of 988,
I would love for youto reflect back on 911.
And 911 has only been around about 54,maybe 55 years.
So as you think about 988 andthe maturation of it, it's very young.
(24:22):
And to Hannah's point,it continues to evolve and continues
to get better.
So we're going to stay the course,and we want you to be aware of it
and to make sure you're,looking at, what this needs
to look like in your community.
And, making sure that you reach outto us, and our website,
for any questions that you might have,and we'll make sure
(24:43):
that we put the linkson this message here.
One of the things that I wanted to alsosay, Hannah, is that when I first
started going up to the Hill with youand your team,
it's very interestinghow it's evolved, where we talk about
reducing the stigma.
(25:03):
We had elected officialsthat would wait
until the end of the meeting and say,hey, Dan, could you
could you stay back?
And they would talk to me in the backroom about a family situation.
Now they are actually talkingin the meetings with their staffs
in the room,and they're being open about
what their family member or,something that they may know
(25:25):
about that they've been navigatingfrom the standpoint of mental health.
So, you know,kudos to you and your team
because you're absolutely addressingthe stigma.
You're reducing the stigma.
And I think in 2025,if my memory serves me correctly, there
were, what, 15 visits to each officeor something like that, Hannah?
Well, every member of Congresshas heard from NAMI advocates
at least 15 times.
(25:47):
But we have met with about two thirdsof congressional offices,
either staff have or NAMI leadershave this year.
So we've covered a lot of groundand had those direct conversations
to make sure one, everyone knows thatNAMI is a resource because constituents
are always reaching outto congressional offices for help
when they or a loved one are in crisisor can't find services.
(26:10):
So we want them to knowthat NAMI is a resource.
All of our local NAMIs are a resource,but also to make sure that lived
experience is part of the conversation.
That's who we are.
And we need to make surethat any policy that,
aims to supportor help the mental health community,
that people with lived experienceare part of that conversation.
(26:30):
And so that's whatwe're bringing to the Hill every day.
Thank you, Hannah.
And again, congratulations on the work.
And Darcy, I want to come to youand ask you a, you know,
kind of detailed question in a way,and then open question another way.
And that is this, that, you willbe retiring at the end of this year.
Your workactually goes over two decades,
(26:55):
in terms of in this spaceand with NAMI.
What have you seen fromwhen you started to now,
what things did you touch asyou've been matriculating through NAMI?
What is your hope for NAMIinto the future?
Just, if you could just kind ofgive us a lens
into your perspective on, first of all,what did it look like?
(27:18):
"It," the mental health spacewhen you came in.
And, you know,I'm not trying to make you feel
a senior or whatever,but a couple of decades ago.
And what do you see it to be now?
And what's your hope for itin the future?
Yeah,I mean, I think the, the biggest thing
from when I first came ina couple decades ago was
(27:38):
not-- a lack of recognition thatthese are conditions that start early.
So all the work on youthand young adults, from an advocacy
perspective,from a program perspective,
from a resource perspective, that isreally exciting and so important.
And I think NAMI'smade such an important impact.
(27:58):
I would say over the last ten yearsfor sure,
a steady, increase, but really--and when I came back three years ago,
I was so impressedwith the level of commitment that NAMI
had made to youth and young adults.
I think the 988 workthat Hannah leads
has been so transformational.
(28:21):
It's very-- in a sense, it'svery symbolic at the onset,
but the work that Hannah's donein pulling groups together
to really work together, which in themental health space is not always easy,
but really to work together,all rowing in the same direction
on something so critically importantto acknowledge that we need
a separate number for these conditionsbecause they're so common
(28:44):
and because they impact so many.
I would say NAMI'swork from a communication perspective,
the fact that we have,I believe, around 80% of shared media,
I'm not sure I'musing exactly the right language,
but NAMI's place in the media worldwhen it comes to how much the media
(29:05):
outlets rely on us for information.
Recognize that we are vastwith 650 organizations,
that we really understandwhat's going on the ground,
that they turn to usas a reliable resource.
I think, too, very impressivewith our alliance relations team
(29:28):
and how they are workingwith the field to help strengthen
the alliance in critical ways.
Because it's not easy to run a smallnonprofit out there at the local level.
Many of our state organizationsare incredibly impressive,
and doing such important work on statelegislative issues and more.
But it is not easy to do it,especially with disruption and change.
(29:50):
So strengthening the alliance at alllevels
of NAMI is so critically important.
And I would also sayour strategic partnerships.
I know, Dan, you've often saidpartnerships are a force multiplier.
And they are.
We cannot do this work alone.
And the partnershipswe've made in the private sector,
the partnershipswe've made in the nonprofit sector
(30:10):
with faith communities, really thinkingvery strategically around
who we should partner withso that we can ensure that people know
who NAMI is. Whatwe don't like to hear is people saying,
I wish I knew about NAMI before.
So I would say the factthat we have been so deliberate
(30:31):
about getting our name out there,creating the right strategic alliances
and partnerships,really working with the field
and learning from the fieldat the national level.
We don't know all the thingshappening on the ground.
So the fact that we havethis collaboration with state
and affiliates so we can really learnwhat are the critical issues.
What are you seeing in your community,is so important to the work we do.
(30:55):
So we are never in an ivory tower.
We are always have our fingeron the pulse
because we have that connection.
It's the feel that makes NAMI strongand we do not--we never forget that.
Let me say that.
We always remember thatwe are grounded in community activity.
So I came back and looked at NAMIand I came back after
(31:17):
17 years, came back three years ago,and NAMI was like a different place
in the sense that we had just grownin all the right ways.
And our impact is clear.
And I believe the roadand the path forward for
NAMI is incredibly strongand really exciting.
And I think good, strongleadership is really makes
(31:37):
all the difference.
And the fact that we workedso well with the field
is really so incredibly encouraging.
Darcy, thank you very much. Andwe're excited for your next move
in terms ofjust having some time
to invest in family and to relax.
(31:59):
So, you know, we wish you the very bestand want to celebrate you.
And thank youfor the service of your time with us
and what you've given to NAMI so.
Can I add something, Dan?
I would love you to add somethingif you'd like to. Yes.
So Darcy talked about just the focuson youth and young adults and certainly
(32:21):
from the NAMI perspective,much of that is thanks to Darcy.
Before she left for herfive-year hiatus from NAMI,
she led so much of our work, helpedstart
the NAMI on-campus program,did so much great work.
And, you know, many peoplewon't remember, but we used to not have
(32:41):
these programs called CoordinatedSpecialty Care across the country.
These are programs.
They are wraparound servicesfor young people experiencing
first episodes of psychosis.
Highly evidence-based, amazing.
And Darcy led the charge at the--fromsubject matter level
and from the advocacy levelto make sure that those were funded
(33:03):
through the Mental HealthBlock Grant program.
And in 2008, there werea couple of programs on the West Coast,
and there are well over 300 of theseprograms across the country.
And Darcy led that effort.
She has done so much in this space.
And I just want to recognizethat we have only grown
to recognize youth and young adultsand make them part of our organization
(33:26):
and a core part of what we do,thanks to Darcy's leadership on that.
So I just, I want to recognize all thatshe has done.
An incredible legacythat she's leaving us with.
Hannah, thank you so much.
And, you know,we talk about peer to peer.
There's no greater recognitionand acknowledgment
than when it's peer to peer.
(33:46):
So thank you for sharing that.
And really walking us throughfrom the early days
to now what it looks like in sharingthis wonderful
insight in terms of the evolutionof what Darcy's
accomplished over her time here.
And to Darcy, again, congratulations.
(34:07):
I think that this is just wonderful.
And thank you.
So, you know, before we conclude,we always like to ask our guests
a question at the end, and,
the world can be a difficult place,and sometimes it can be hard
to hold on to hope.
(34:28):
So we always ask our guestswhat has them hold on to hope?
Again, let's go in alphabetical order,and we'll go with Darcy.
And then Hannah.
Darcy, what has you, hold on to hold.
Thank you.
Thank you both for your kind words.
I'm really grateful.
NAMI is an incredible organizationand I feel so privileged
(34:49):
to have been here so long.
I would say holding on to hopeis about young people,
and I feel very stronglythat there are future leaders
and NAMI's commitment to our futureleaders and NAMI Next Gen and NAMI
on campus, and all the wayswe advocate for young people has me
(35:09):
and are--let me just say,too, are real commitment to diversity.
And when you look at our NAMI NextGen or NAMI Next Gen cohort,
you see that we have madea high priority of ensuring diversity.
We need to have diverse voices.
So the youth and young adultsthat are engaging with NAMI
(35:30):
at all levels, affiliate, stateand national levels
give me hope because they are thefuture of the world
and they care about mental healthand they are going to be a voice
for mental health.
And we need them.
We need them to helpsteer us in the right direction.
So for that,that makes me hold on to hope.
(35:51):
Before I pass it to Hannah,I have another question for you, Darcy.
As you go and relax for a little while,what will you be watching?
To see if we do well, We,NAMI, in 2026.
The tough questions.
Very tough.
I will be on the sidelineswatching NAMI, for sure.
(36:12):
So let's just start right there.
I would sayjust the continued commitment
to the areas that matter most.
I would like to continueto see a focus on young people,
a focus on diversity,a focus on meeting people
where they areand just to continue to see NAMI
leading on the advocacyand policy front
(36:34):
because we are out front,I think the Reimagine Crisis
has been brilliant.
Hannah and her team are super creativeand very smart about advocacy
at a difficult time.
So I will be watching NAMI navigatethese difficult waters
in the way we've been doing in 2025,and that's what I'll be watching.
(36:55):
And I have every reason to believeit will be smooth with some ripples,
because of coursethat's going to be the case,
but I can't wait to seeif the Medicaid fights and other things
that are going to be really importantto people living with,
mental health conditions.
This is what it's all about.
It is what it's all about.
And thank you for that, Darcy.
And as you know, Darcy has alludedin terms of, youth and young adults,
(37:18):
we know it's 11 years from the firstsign and inception of a mental
health issue or conditionto when that young person gets help.
So if you're talking about a 13or 14 year old,
they could be in their mid 20s.
So we want to go upstream and not waituntil they actually fall in the stream.
So that's why this is so important.
(37:39):
So thank you for that, Darcy.
And Hannah, I want to come to you.
And this has been a year for youand your team to hold on to hope.
And you did itso very well and navigated
and adjusted yourselves as you werelooking at your work.
And, you know,we could never have forecasted 2025.
(38:01):
So as we look at that and look forward,what has you
hold on to hope in 2026?
Yeah, it's an important question.
And it's one that my teamand I talk about a lot.
I'll be honest,there are times this year
where it was really hardto find that hope.
We've had really difficult news,and it has been coming
fast throughout the year.
(38:25):
But whatgives me hope and what is a constant
reminder is our grassroots.
They are out there.
They don't lose hope.
They keep fighting.
They keep advocating, and they need usto continue doing the same.
And every conversationI have with our folks on the ground
in communities across the countryreminds me how important it is
that we say in this fight,you know, I tried really hard
(38:46):
at the top of this conversationto be positive about what
positive things happened this year.
That hasn'tbeen a lot of my conversations,
and I'm doing a summary of the year.
But I do have a lot of hopebecause I believe that these advocates
are not going to give up.
They haven't given up yet.
They've been fighting for decadesand decades for better systems,
and they're going to keep fighting.
(39:09):
And I'm just proud to be alongsidethem.
Yeah. Thank you.
And what I would say isyou mentioned grassroots, and,
I just was writing some notesas you were speaking,
and it's, as you mentioned thatyou were you were trying to be very,
you know,encouraging at the very beginning,
talkingabout some of the accomplishments.
So that encouragementgoes into 2026 as well.
(39:29):
And we are the largest grassrootsmental health organization with folks
in communities in over650 communities across the US.
And I like to saywe're the DNA in that local community
because we actually listen,we have our ear to the ground
and we see what that community needs,what they're, what they're navigating.
And thenwe adapt, we adjust, and we provide.
(39:50):
And it's, filled with resiliency,adaptability, and solutions.
So, one of the groups I didn'tmention is our volunteers.
So I just wantedto mention our volunteers
because they're very importantto our work.
And as we talked about the helplineearlier,
we have volunteers that that actuallygo through the training
(40:11):
to actually providesome of our support for our helpline.
And then we have volunteersand our affiliates and in our states.
And I just wanted to call themout because they do a lot of
the heavy lifting as well.
So, to everyone, to everyonethat does this work.
Thank you for that.
And thank you for holding on to hope,holding on
(40:33):
to that encouragement, being adaptable,flexible and resilient.
We wish you the very best.
And as we get ready to close outthis wonderful session.
Can I say one thing, Dan?
I would love you to say one thing.
And I've got my Kleenex here.
Okay. No, no, no, no, wait.
I need to say something andyou're not allowed to edit this out.
(40:54):
I just want to say, too,and I am sure Hannah feels this way.
I know the whole executive teamfeels this way.
When we have a moment,that is to celebrate,
that is to be really excited about,and we've had a lot in 2025,
what Dan Gillison says is"This moment belongs to all of us."
And he is constantly givingcredit away.
(41:17):
But I, and hopefully getyou get that Kleenex out, but
the leadership of NAMIis so incredibly strong
and we are where we are todaybecause we have a CEO
who cares, who leads with heart,who understands engagement,
and who builds partnershipbecause of who he is at his core.
So leadership is everything.
(41:38):
And NAMI--this is what gives mehope, is that NAMI is being steered
by a leader who really understandspeople, the mission, and how to lead.
So I just needed to say that as I'mgetting ready to walk out the door
and I happen to know my colleaguesfeel the same.
So, I just needed to share that.
(42:00):
What a beautiful note to wrap up on.
Couldn't agree more.
Thank you, Darcy. Thank you, Hannah.
So, as we, as we wrap up,and, I just want to say
thank youto both of you, on behalf of NAMI,
on behalf of our leadership team,and to everyone.
(42:21):
This has been Hope Startswith Us, a podcast by NAMI,
the National Allianceon Mental Illness.
If you are looking for mental healthresources, you are not alone.
To connect with the NAMI helplineand find local
resources, visit NAMI.org/help.
Text "NAMI" to 62640or dial (800)-950-NAMI.
(42:42):
And that's 6264.
Or if you are experiencingan immediate suicide,
substance use, or mental health crisis,please call or text 988
to speak with a trained supportspecialist or visit 988 Lifeline Talk.
I'm Dan Gillison, your host.
We wish you the very best and be well.
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