Muscatine NAMI

Welcome

With more than 210,000 members, NAMI is the nation's leading grassroots advocacy organization solely dedicated to improving the lives of persons with severe mental illnesses including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness), major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and severe anxiety disorders.

What is Mental Illness?

Mental illnesses are disorders of the brain that disrupt a person's thinking, feeling, moods, and ability to relate to others. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are brain disorders that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.

Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or income. Five million people in this country alone suffer from a serious chronic brain disorder. These illnesses greatly affect family members and society in general. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weaknesses, lack of character, or poor upbringing.

Most importantly, these brain disorders are treatable. As a diabetic takes insulin, most people with serious mental illness need medication to help control symptoms. Supportive counseling, self-help groups, housing, vocational rehabilitation, income assistance, and other community services can also provide support and stability, leaving the focus on recovery.

NAMI Helpline

NAMI Helpline can be reaced by callilng 1-800-950-NAMI(6264).

The helpline is staffed by trained volunteers and provides information, referral, and support to all who have questions about or are affected by serious mental illness.

InformationWe provide general (non-professional) information on illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression; issues affecting children, adolescents and young families; general questions about medication; NAMI programs; NAMI policy positions (such as mental health parity)...and a whole lot more.

Referral To
NAMI state offices, local affiliates (Muscatine-NAMI), and support groups throughout the country and to other organizations serving the needs of those affected by serious mental illness.

Support from
Trained volunteers - consumers and family members - who know what it's like and who've ''been there!''

The helpline DOES NOT provide counseling, legal advice, medical advice, or referrals to professionals (psychiatrists, attorneys, etc.).