NAMI Chattanooga

NAMI Chattanooga is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. An affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI Chattanooga impacts the community through compassionate support services, research-based educational programs, and intentional advocacy. Support groups are the centerpiece of NAMI Chattanooga’s programming. Led by trained, practiced facilitators who have life experience with mental illness, support groups are a scientifically-evaluated approach that consistently deliver positives outcomes for participants. NAMI Chattanooga offers access to support groups by hosting online sessions and by collaborating with local organizations to host in-person gatherings. NAMI Chattanooga also provides a variety of educational and training programs for the broader community. Most notably, NAMI Chattanooga partners with the larger community of mental health professionals to educate and train law enforcement on how to respond during a mental health crisis. This initiative, known as Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), is a highly effective model that teaches how to identify a mental health crisis and coaches on responding with care and understanding. CIT provides officers with tools that deescalate situations and offer options other than arrest and jail.