When we bring the perspective of the family AND the person living with mental illness directly to policymakers, we educate elected officials to prioritize policy decisions that ensure quality services and enhance recovery for the mental health community in New York.

Become an Advocacy Ambassador
Join the fight for better mental health services in NYC and share your story with elected officials! The NAMI-NYC Advocacy Ambassador program provides families and individuals impacted by mental illness with the skills and training needed to meet with elected officials and create change in their communities.

Click here to learn more about our policy priorities, the Ambassador program, and to apply.

Ending the Silence is a 50-minute presentation for junior high and high school students, staff, or family members, to help understand signs of mental health conditions, and what to do about it.

Ending the Silence Presenters work in teams of two: a “lead presenter” (a family member or an individual living with a mental illness) and a “young adult presenter” (someone 18-30 years old, living in recovery from a mental illness).

Both roles require training with NAMI-NYC. ETS presentations are done during school hours and in the evening – anyone interested must be available sometime between 8am to 7pm ET, Mondays through Fridays.

The Ending the Silence presenter must identify as someone with lived experience of a mental health condition, or as a family member of someone with a mental illness.

If this role sounds like a fit for you, please fill out this application here.

Are you a parent, sibling, partner, or adult child of someone with a mental illness? Use your valuable lived experience to support another family member.

A Family Match Mentor provides one-to-one support over the phone for 3 months. You are paired with someone in the same relationship, loving someone with similar symptoms or diagnoses.

Through your good instincts and training in active listening, you’ll help other family members:

• Feel less alone and more hopeful
• Understand resources at NAMI-NYC and beyond
• Consider realistic expectations and relationships with their loved one
• Prioritize their own health and needs

This role is for family members of someone living with a mental health condition ONLY.

What qualities do successful mentors have? They…

• Value support and educating themselves
• Enjoy connecting with a variety of people
• Can balance sharing with privacy
• Are solid communicators and organizers
• As a bonus, speak Spanish fluently

With your experience of loving and being supported, you can provide empathy in the most meaningful way – because you’ve been there

If this role sounds like a fit for you, please fill out this application here.

We are looking for people to serve as greeters to attendees.

• Arrive one hour before the start of the assigned program or event.
• Assist with room set up.
• Welcome participants!
• Provide masks if needed.
• Direct participants to our office (downstairs greeter) or to the correct program room (upstairs greeter).
• Assist participants with attendance form using QR code or tablet (upstairs greeter).

Greeters commit to staying at the office for 90 minutes at their scheduled time.

• Must be comfortable working with people.
• Must commute to the NAMI-NYC office at W. 38th St. and 8th Ave. in Manhattan.
• Must comply with NAMI-NYC’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

If this role sounds like a fit for you, please fill out this application here.

In Our Own Voice is a powerful public presentation which challenges assumptions and stereotypes by describing the reality of living with a mental health condition. In each presentation, In Our Own Voice presenters share their journey and experiences with mental health. Audiences can include community organizations, companies, patients in an inpatient setting, medical professionals, or college students.

In Our Own Voice presenters work in teams of two to share their personal mental health journeys, what helps them stay well, and answer questions from audiences who want to learn more about mental health. The volunteer presenter must identify as someone with lived experience of a mental health condition and must be comfortable speaking openly about their mental health journey.

The role requires NAMI-NYC training and membership in NAMI-NYC. IOOV presentations are done in-person during business hours (and occasionally in the evening) – anyone interested must be available sometime between 10am and 6pm Mondays through Fridays.

If this role sounds like a fit for you, please fill out this application here.

NOTE: Our In Our Own Voice program will accept new volunteer applications January 2, 2025 – April 1, 2025.

Represent NAMI-NYC at tabling events throughout the five boroughs of New York City!

At these events, the Community Outreach volunteer will share information and answer questions about NAMI-NYC’s free programs for individuals and family members affected by mental illness.

• Time commitment: Volunteers are asked to serve at least 2 tabling events per year. Tabling events typically last 4 hours but may extend to 8 hours, with shifts scheduled in two- or four-hour blocks on both weekdays and weekends. Volunteers are welcome to serve more. This role is active March through October.
• Attend a 1-hour training to learn about NAMI-NYC programs and outreach efforts via Zoom, Teams, or in-person.
• Site Setting: At times you may be asked to assist with transporting a canopy, tables, and chairs to and from the NAMI-NYC Office located at 307 W 38th St at 8th Ave in Manhattan.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Share information and materials about NAMI-NYC program and services.
• Direct visitors to appropriate NAMI-NYC programs.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD OUTREACH VOLUNTEER:

• Empathetic: You can use care and sensitivity to best respond to people approaching the NAMI-NYC table.
• Flexible: You are ready to pitch in where needed and are comfortable in a sometimes fast-paced environment.
• Passionate: You are deeply committed to the cause of supporting those with mental illness and/or family members/caregivers of those impacted by mental illness.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be able to carry up to 15-20 lbs. for tabling and canopy setup.
• Must identify as someone with a mental health condition or as a loved one of someone.
• Must be an active listener without judgement and approach all visitors with respect.

NOTE: This role will accept new volunteer applications in March 2025. The link to the application will be posted here.