Ed Smith interviewed Kristina Mossgraber, the Chief Operation Officer at NAMI Rochester.
-She explained how NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) started and how they are the local chapter here in Rochester
-She said the organization has seen a lot of growth during the last few years since the COVID-19 pandemic with more people and organizations wanting to focus on mental health
-They are focused on providing mental health education, awareness, and connecting people with local resources
-They have a handful of wellness programs like yoga and journaling which are focused on keeping people’s mental health in good health
-They are doing a lot of community outreach with local schools, businesses and organization that want to offering training sessions on how to talk to someone with mental illness and prevent suicide
-Kristina said local school districts are increasing conversations and awareness about mental health for children
-She explained how they are a great resource for people with mental illness and their friends and family but if someone is in a crisis situation they should call 211 right away to speak with a trained professional
-They have a new program called Homefront which helps families of veterans learn how to better assist them and connect them with other veterans organizations
-NAMI is looking for volunteers and donations for their annual NAMI Walk in May