Ten Ways to Engage People Affected by Mental Illness in Your Community
-
BlogThe National Alliance on Mental Illness has developed a new tool to ensure the voices of people with mental illnesses and their families are heard as a part of efforts to reduce the prevalence of mental illnesses in jails.Ten Ways to Engage People Affected by Mental Illness in Your Community
-
Blog
Ten Ways to Engage People Affected by Mental Illness in Your Community
As part of the national Stepping Up initiative, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has developed Ten Ways to Engage People Affected by Mental Illness in Your Community, a new tool to ensure the voices of people with mental illnesses and their families are heard as a part of efforts to reduce the prevalence of mental illnesses in jails.
Individuals living with mental illnesses and their family members can and should play a key role in collaborative efforts to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jails. They can be strong allies in building goodwill with the broader community, getting positive media attention for efforts, and advising on strategies that work for advancing mental health recovery. They also can assist in training criminal justice professionals, providing peer support to individuals and families in crisis, and identifying the impact of initiatives.
Although each county or community has its distinct needs and challenges, county leaders and partners can broadly engage individuals or family members in their initiatives to get the most impact. This report identifies 10 strategies for doing just that, including:
- Identify local mental health organizations
- Share information about your efforts
- Invite a representative to participate in efforts
- Build on existing criminal justice programs
- Ask local organizations about education and training programs they offer
- Designate a county staff member to serve as the point of contact
- Encourage service providers and case managers to engage people with mental illnesses and their caregivers in coordinating treatment plans
- Involve certified peer specialists in connecting individuals to services
- Work with individuals with mental illnesses to promote awareness in the community
- Invite mental health organizations to partners with you on hosting awards ceremonies honoring criminal justice and mental health professionals.
If you have a story to share about how your county is working with people with mental illnesses, their families, and advocates to reduce the number of individuals with mental illnesses in jails, you can send it to info@stepuptogether.org.
*To find your local NAMI, visit http://www.nami.org/local. Other mental health organizations you may wish to reach out to include the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery, and Mental Health America. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also has a mental health consumer assistance listing of mental health and substance use recovery organizations.
Stepping Up is a national initiative to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jails, and the result of a partnership between NACo, the Council of State Governments Justice Center and the American Psychiatric Association Foundation. For more information, visit www.stepuptogether.org.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness has developed a new tool to ensure the voices of people with mental illnesses and their families are heard as a part of efforts to reduce the prevalence of mental illnesses in jails.2015-08-03Blog2015-08-28
![]() |
As part of the national Stepping Up initiative, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has developed Ten Ways to Engage People Affected by Mental Illness in Your Community, a new tool to ensure the voices of people with mental illnesses and their families are heard as a part of efforts to reduce the prevalence of mental illnesses in jails.
Individuals living with mental illnesses and their family members can and should play a key role in collaborative efforts to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jails. They can be strong allies in building goodwill with the broader community, getting positive media attention for efforts, and advising on strategies that work for advancing mental health recovery. They also can assist in training criminal justice professionals, providing peer support to individuals and families in crisis, and identifying the impact of initiatives.
Although each county or community has its distinct needs and challenges, county leaders and partners can broadly engage individuals or family members in their initiatives to get the most impact. This report identifies 10 strategies for doing just that, including:
- Identify local mental health organizations
- Share information about your efforts
- Invite a representative to participate in efforts
- Build on existing criminal justice programs
- Ask local organizations about education and training programs they offer
- Designate a county staff member to serve as the point of contact
- Encourage service providers and case managers to engage people with mental illnesses and their caregivers in coordinating treatment plans
- Involve certified peer specialists in connecting individuals to services
- Work with individuals with mental illnesses to promote awareness in the community
- Invite mental health organizations to partners with you on hosting awards ceremonies honoring criminal justice and mental health professionals.
If you have a story to share about how your county is working with people with mental illnesses, their families, and advocates to reduce the number of individuals with mental illnesses in jails, you can send it to info@stepuptogether.org.
*To find your local NAMI, visit http://www.nami.org/local. Other mental health organizations you may wish to reach out to include the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, the National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery, and Mental Health America. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also has a mental health consumer assistance listing of mental health and substance use recovery organizations.
Stepping Up is a national initiative to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jails, and the result of a partnership between NACo, the Council of State Governments Justice Center and the American Psychiatric Association Foundation. For more information, visit www.stepuptogether.org.

About Nastassia Walsh (Full Bio)
Director of Programs and Operations
Nastassia Walsh is Director of Programs and Operations for the Counties Futures Lab at the National Association of Counties where she oversees the day-to-day management of NACo’s programs and networks that help counties across the country improve community outcomes on key local issues including criminal justice, health, behavioral health, economMore from Nastassia Walsh
-
Webinar
County Listening Session for the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health
Jun. 30, 2022 , 3:00 pm – 4:00 pmAs the front line of the social safety net, counties make significant investments in health and well-being to support our most vulnerable residents and are key partners with state and federal governments in efforts to combat hunger. In advance of the upcoming -
Blog
Congress clears bipartisan gun reform legislation
On June 25, Congress passed and the President signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (P.L. 117-159), the first major gun reform legislation in decades. The bill makes critical changes to the process for acquiring a firearm and includes funding opportunities to assist in identifying and addressing mental health, and makes key investments in strengthening school safety. -
Blog
CDC announces $4 billion in funding for public health workforce, infrastructure and data systems
On June 23, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems, a new, flexible funding opportunity that will provide nearly $4 billion over five years to improve critical public health infrastructure to health departments across the country. -
Blog
2022 #NACoAnn Spotlight: Smart Justice & Behavioral Health
The NACo Annual Conference & Exposition is the largest meeting of county elected and appointed officials from across the country. -
Webinar
Protecting Public Health: Vector Disease Management and Mosquito Emergency Response
Jun. 21, 2022 , 1:00 pm – 2:00 pmCounty leaders are working across different sectors to coordinate programs and services that impact the well-being of communities, especially when it comes to the strong connection between the environment and public health.
-
Webinar
SLLC Supreme Court Review
July 14, 2022 , 2:00 pm – 3:15 pmFrom guns, abortion, countless First Amendment cases to a potentially big police case, this U.S. Supreme Court term will long be remembered. Join Dan Bromberg of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, who wrote the SLLC amicus brief in Shurtleff v. Boston, Roman Martinez of Latham & Watkins, who argued Vega v.07142:00 pm<p>From guns, abortion, countless First Amendment cases to a potentially big police case, this U.S. Supreme Court term will long be remembered.
-
Basic page
The Stepping Up Initiative
In May 2015, NACo and partners at the CSG Justice Center and APA Foundation launched Stepping Up: A National Initiative to Reduce the Number of People with Mental Illnesses in Jails.pagepagepage<h2>Overview</h2>
<blockquote>
<h3>Join the Initiative!</h3> -
Reports & Toolkits
COVID-19 Recovery Clearinghouse
The COVID-19 Recovery Clearinghouse features timely resources for counties, including allocation estimations, examples of county programs using federal coronavirus relief funds, the latest news and more.Reports & Toolkitsdocument03127:15 pmReports & Toolkits<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%" summary="ad-block no-top-margin no-bullets">
<caption>Jump to Section</caption> -
Basic page
Live Healthy U.S. Counties
The National Association of Counties (NACo) Live Healthy Prescription, Health & Dental Discount Program is a NO-COST program available to all member counties.pagepagepage<h1>With <a id="naco" name="naco">NACo</a>, Saving Feels Better</h1>
-
Basic page
Justice & Public Safety Steering Committee
All matters pertaining to criminal justice and public safety systems, including criminal justice planning, law enforcement, courts, corrections, homeland security, community crime prevention, juvenile justice and delinquency prevention, emergency management, fire prevention and control, and civil disturbances.pagepagepage<p>All matters pertaining to criminal justice and public safety systems, including criminal justice planning, law enforcement, courts, corrections, homeland security, community crime prevention, juvenile justice and delinquency preven
Contact
-
Director of Programs and Operations(202) 942-4289
Related Posts
-
BlogCongress clears bipartisan gun reform legislationJun. 29, 2022
-
BlogCDC announces $4 billion in funding for public health workforce, infrastructure and data systemsJun. 28, 2022
-
BlogFamiliar Faces Initiative Leader Profile: Board Member Susan Schafer, McLean County, Ill.Jun. 23, 2022
Related Resources
-
Press ReleaseNational Association of Counties Partners with National Council for Mental Wellbeing to Deliver Mental Health First Aid Training to County WorkforceJun. 1, 2022
-
Reports & ToolkitsPromoting Health and Safety Through a Behavioral Health Continuum of CareMay. 24, 2022
-
Reports & ToolkitsToolkit for Counties: The 988 National Suicide Prevention LifelineMay. 23, 2022
Related Events
More From
-
How communities are investing American Rescue Plan funds with the Local Government ARPA Investment Tracker
The Local Government ARPA Investment Tracker, powered by NACo, Brookings Metro and National League of Cities provides a detailed local investment picture of American Rescue Plan Act funding.
Learn More