NAMI New York State

10/21/2026

DEA's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is your chance to rid your medicine cabinet of unneeded and unwanted medications. Start your spring cleaning this year on October 24 by visiting a collection site near you.

Mark your calendar for this upcoming event! Participating drop-off sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (local time) on Saturday, October 24. Collection sites are located around the country and will be collecting:
Tablets
Capsules
Patches
Other solid forms of prescription drugs

https://www.dea.gov/takebackday?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

10/19/2026

NAMI New York State Executive Director Nathan McLaughlin recently spoke with WNYT NewsChannel 13 about the valuable mental health resources available throughout the Capital Region and the importance of connecting individuals and families with the support they need.

At NAMI New York State, we’re committed to raising awareness, reducing stigma, and ensuring that no one has to navigate their mental health journey alone. 💚

📺 Watch the full feature to learn more!
https://wnyt.com/crl/nami-provides-valuable-mental-health-resources-to-the-capital-region/

The Executive Director of the National Alliance for Mental Health (NAMI) shares advice for supporting a loved one who’s going through mental illness.

10/16/2026

Our special screening of Good Side of Bad brought together filmmakers, mental health advocates, and community members for meaningful conversations about serious mental illness, the importance of family and support, and the power of connection and recovery.
We are deeply grateful to our presenting sponsor, the Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance (S&PAA), as well as the Central New York Community Foundation, for their generous support in making this event possible.

We were honored to welcome filmmakers Alethea Root and Jules Bruff who flew all the way out from LA, alongside Michelle Hammer, schizophrenia advocate and founder of Schizophrenic.NYC, who generously donated a portion of her merchandise proceeds to support the event. Angel Stanley, clinician, NAMI Syracuse Board Member, and NAMI NYS Schizophrenia Advisory Committee Member, brought valuable clinical and local perspectives to the discussion.

We’re also grateful to NAMI Syracuse for partnering with us to host this meaningful evening and bringing the community together. Good Side of Bad reminds us that even in the darkest moments, there is room for love, laughter, hope, and healing.

This evening reinforced the importance of challenging stigma, elevating lived experience, and creating spaces where individuals and families affected by serious mental illness feel seen, understood, and supported.

We are so grateful for the power of community and what we can accomplish when we come together with a shared purpose. Thank you to everyone who made this meaningful evening possible! 💙

10/16/2026

🌱 Building a future of mental health for all starts with coming together.

At EdCon 2026, we’ll bring our community together to learn, connect, and explore how support and advocacy can help create stronger, more accessible mental health communities across New York State. Join us November 13–15 in Albany for three days of meaningful conversations, education, connection, and community.

🎟️ Get your tickets today and be part of EdCon 2026: https://whova.com/portal/registration/V7Ajfo3KN-/

10/15/2026

What can we learn from the first ten months of a statewide effort to expand support for people living with schizophrenia and their families?

At EdCon 2026, Taylor Locke, Ann Mandel Laitman, Christen Bryce, Kristen Stewart, and Laura Kordowski will present “Beyond Stigma and Silos: Lessons Learned from the NAMI NYS Schizophrenia Comprehensive Care Initiative.”

The NAMI NYS Schizophrenia Comprehensive Care Initiative is a first-of-its-kind statewide effort focused on expanding access to person-centered schizophrenia support and education for individuals, families, and caregivers across New York State.

This session will take attendees behind the scenes of the initiative, exploring community partnerships, outreach to underserved communities, publicly available resources, and lessons learned from launching a large-scale behavioral health initiative.

Presenters will also address stigma and misconceptions surrounding schizophrenia while highlighting a range of treatment, recovery, and community-based approaches—including peer support, faith-based engagement, creative expression, and other culturally responsive strategies.

The session will conclude with a panel featuring members of the NAMI NYS Schizophrenia Advisory Committee, bringing together lived and professional perspectives from peers, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, and advocates.

Come learn, connect, and take practical resources and strategies back to your community.

📅 November 13–15, 2026
📍 Marriott Hotel, Albany, NY
🎤 EdCon 2026: Mental Health for All: Uplifting Each Other Through Support and Advocacy

Register for EdCon 2026 and join us for this important conversation about expanding comprehensive, person-centered support for schizophrenia across New York State!

Register Now: https://whova.com/portal/registration/V7Ajfo3KN-/

10/13/2026

What happens when public health and public safety work together to respond to behavioral health crises and support people returning to their communities?

At EdCon 2026, John Yates will lead “Bridging Public Health and Public Safety: Transforming Crisis Services and Justice Reentry in New York.”

This session will explore two New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene models—the Co-Response Team (CRT) and the Health Justice Network (HJN)—and how they are working to create more connected, person-centered approaches to crisis response and justice reentry.

From pairing clinicians with NYPD officers for trauma-informed crisis response to using lived experience and peer-led engagement to help people navigate healthcare and community systems, these models offer new ways to address gaps between systems and strengthen continuity of care.

Through case studies and practical examples, attendees will explore how these approaches balance safety, stability, care, and community support while connecting individuals and families with the resources they need.

📅 November 13–15, 2026
📍 Marriott Hotel, Albany, NY
🎤 EdCon 2026: Mental Health for All: Uplifting Each Other Through Support and Advocacy

Join us at EdCon 2026 to explore innovative approaches to crisis services, reentry, and integrated care in New York: https://whova.com/portal/registration/V7Ajfo3KN-/

10/12/2026

Join NAMI New York State for an upcoming webinar exploring the connection between extreme heat and schizophrenia. 🌡️

Hear from Dr. Samantha Green and Dr. Daniel Rosenbaum as they discuss heat-related health risks, warning signs, prevention strategies, and opportunities for action at the individual, clinical, community, and policy levels.

📅 Friday, October 16, 2026
⏰ 2 PM - 3 PM ET
💻 Free virtual webinar | Zoom

➡️ Register today: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/1628D50HQzurJtGiKVDz4g #/registration

10/12/2026

Today, we recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day and honor the diverse cultures, histories and contributions of Indigenous communities.

For many Indigenous people, culture, community, family, connection to land and the wisdom of Elders can play an important role in mental health and well-being. Understanding the impact of history and supporting culturally responsive mental health care are important steps toward a more inclusive mental health system.

NAMI New York State will be closed on Monday, October 12, in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. We will resume regular business hours on Tuesday, October 13.

Learn more about Indigenous mental health and well-being at NAMI.org/Indigenous.

10/10/2026

🌎 Today is World Mental Health Day.

Today, we recognize the importance of mental health and the need for communities where everyone feels supported, heard, and able to access the care they need. It’s also a reminder that support and advocacy can help move us toward a future of mental health for all.

This November, let’s keep the conversation going at NAMI NYS EdCon 2026, November 13–15 in Albany. Join advocates, professionals, and community leaders for three days of learning, connection, meaningful conversations, and advocacy.

🎟️ Get your tickets today and join us at EdCon 2026: https://whova.com/portal/registration/V7Ajfo3KN-/

10/09/2026

When I’m not sure what to think or where to turn, I look to NAMI for evidence-based support available in my community. That’s when I know I am not alone. They help turn science into hope.