NAMI Washington

Incredible opportunity coming up this May in Seatac, WA - Washington Mental Health Counselors Association's Conference, Weaving Connection!

Our Conference Schedule is now live on our website! We hope you can join us May 1st - 3rd in SeaTac, WA. Earn up to 12.5 CEs, network with collegues, and so much more! Register now - prices increase March 15, 2026.

https://wmhca.org/2026-WMHCA-Conference

Thank you to our Gold Sponsor, Neurocrine Biosciences! 💛

We’re grateful to Neurocrine Biosciences for partnering with NAMI Washington for Lobby Day on February 16th in Olympia. Neurocrine’s commitment to discovering and developing life-changing treatments for people living with serious neurological, neuroendocrine, and neuropsychiatric conditions aligns deeply with our shared vision of better mental health care for all.

On Presidents’ Day, NAMI members and supporters will come together to educate legislators about mental illness and advocate for a shift from a “mental illness” system to a truly compassionate, accessible mental health system. Support from partners like Neurocrine Biosciences helps ensure these voices are heard and valued.
Thank you for standing with our community and helping move mental health forward across Washington. Together, we’re making change possible.

Learn more or get involved: https://www.namiwa.org/lobby-day

🗣️ Make your voice heard this President’s Day!

Join NAMI Washington Lobby Day on February 16 in Olympia and help shape a future where mental health is treated with the care and urgency it deserves.

NAMI members and supporters are some of the most powerful voices legislators hear. Lobby Day is your chance to share your story, learn advocacy skills, and help move our state from a “mental illness” system to a true mental health system—together.

What to expect (tentative schedule):
• 8:30–9:00 AM: Arrival & continental breakfast
• 9:00–10:30 AM: Welcome, 2026 Legislative Priorities & lobbying skills
• 10:30–11:00 AM: Legislative district meetings
• 11:00 AM: Travel to the Capitol Campus
• 11:30 AM–5:00 PM: Legislative visits

The NAMI Washington state office will schedule legislative appointments for each affiliate, just be sure you know your legislative district when you register.

👉 More details and registration info are available on the registration page. https://www.namiwa.org/lobby-day (link in the bio!)

Questions? Reach out to Alice Nichols at [email protected]

Together, our voices matter—and together, we can create change.

NAMI Washington is proud to congratulate Rep. Joe Schmick and Rep. Tarra Simmons on receiving their 2025 Behavioral Health Champion Awards last week in Olympia, WA.

This recognition honors their continued support of legislation that uplifts and protects people living with mental health challenges across Washington. Their leadership helps move us closer to a future where mental health care is accessible, compassionate, and equitable for all.

Thank you, Rep. Schmick and Rep. Simmons, for standing with our community and championing mental health in Washington.

💙 Every step tells a story. 💙

Save the Date!

Join us for NAMIWalks Washington on May 31, 2026, where we will come together to walk, connect, and build a future where Mental Health is for All. Yes, NAMIWalks Washington will be on Sunday this year!

Join us for NAMIWalks on Sunday, May 31, 2026!
🕛 Event Time: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. PT
📝 Registration Opens: 11 a.m.
🎤 Opening Ceremony: 12 p.m.

We hope you’ll join us this year to come together to walk alongside the community, and help remind us that every step tells a story.

👉 Learn more and register: https://www.namiwalks.org/washington

Want to turn your lived experience into support for others?

NAMI Washington is looking for people with lived experience of a mental health condition to become certified NAMI Peer-to-Peer facilitators—and we’d love to have you. Apply on our website under "Education" and "NAMIWA State Trainings"

NAMI Peer-to-Peer is a free, 8-session educational program for adults living with mental health conditions. It’s led by trained peers and centers on connection, learning, and hope. As a facilitator, you help create a safe, confidential, and welcoming space where people can share, learn, and grow—together.

As a facilitator, you’ll support participants as they:
Set goals and imagine what recovery looks like for them
Build confidence and communication skills
Practice stress-reduction and self-care tools
Strengthen relationships
Share their story in a nonjudgmental space
Learn more about mental health treatment options

📅 Next Facilitator Training: February 7–8, 2026
🗓️ Sign-up deadline: January 11, 2026

Please contact your local NAMI Affiliate who will guide you through the application process to become approved to take the training to become a facilitator.

If peer support has made a difference in your life, and you’d like to be that support for someone else, this training is a meaningful next step.

👉 Sign up to become a NAMI Peer-to-Peer facilitator and help bring hope and connection to communities across Washington.

The NYTimes suggests talking to a friend as a way to take care of your mental health! NAMI support groups are a great place to engage with others with similar experiences! Find support groups on your local NAMI's website or on ours! Happy New Year!

9 Ways to Take Care of Your Mental Health in 2026 These tips will help refresh your mind and bolster your brain.

As we welcome a new year, all of us at NAMI Washington want to send you our warmest wishes. Wherever this past year has taken you, please know you don’t have to face the next one alone. Your mental health matters, your experiences are valid, and support is available when you need it. Whether that support comes from a loved one, your community, or NAMI Washington, we’re here for you. May this year bring moments of hope, connection, and care.

Happy New Year!

Seattle Times will host a screening and panel discussion of the new film "Rosemead" THIS WEEK!

“Rosemead” follows a Chinese immigrant mother (Lucy Liu) as she grows increasingly worried about her teenage son (Lawrence Shou) and his diagnosis with schizophrenia. The film is based on a 2017 column written by Los Angeles Times columnist Frank Shyong.

The screening will take place Thursday, Jan. 8, at 6:30 p.m. at AMC Pacific Place 11 in downtown Seattle (600 Pine St. Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98101).

Tickets are available through Eventbrite for $25 (link in the article). (Please note there are other screenings that day at AMC Pacific Place; you must have an Eventbrite ticket through The Seattle Times to access this screening. You do not need to purchase an AMC ticket.)

‘Rosemead’ film screening and discussion: Join The Seattle Times Join us Jan. 8 at 6:30 p.m. for a screening and discussion featuring a lead actor, the journalist whose column inspired the film and an expert on mental health.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/15/well/mind/brain-health-challenge-sign-up.html?smid=url-share

Want a Healthier Brain in 2026? Sign Up for Well’s 5-Day Challenge. We’ll show you how to keep your mind sharp and resilient for years to come. Signing up with a partner may bring even bigger benefits.

Thank you, Caleb Tizon !

Caleb Tizon of Narratives of Pain filled the room with emotional, elegant instrumentals that carried us through the evening. We’re so grateful for the heart, artistry, and atmosphere he brought to the Brainpower Showcase this year.

🧡 Happy Thanksgiving from NAMI Washington! 🧡

We’re grateful for our amazing community and everyone who supports mental health in Washington. Wishing you a peaceful, warm, and restorative holiday. 🍂