Local mental health advocates are working to amplify the voices of people with mental illness.

National Alliance on Mental Illness Indiana is leading efforts with a series of events this month to spread mental health awareness. The organization is offering Hoosiers free resources in hopes of building a stronger support system in our community.

NAMI Indiana reported 38% of Hoosier adults experienced symptoms of anxiety and depression in February 2021, and of those, nearly 20% were unable to get needed counseling or therapy.

“We know that one in five adults in our country has a mental illness and one in six youth in our country have a mental illness. And then of those numbers, only half of those people get treatment. We want to bridge that gap so that more people acknowledge what it is and get access to treatment. So that they’re not living untreated,” said Caroline Chastain, NAMI Indiana.

The nonprofit offers nearly 30 support groups for people with mental illness, their loved ones, and public education classes to help people and families better navigate their mental health diagnoses.