Our Story

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Located in Anchorage, Alaska, NAMI Anchorage is a NAMI Affiliate. NAMI Anchorage and dedicated volunteer grassroots leaders work together to raise awareness and provide essential education, advocacy and support group programs for people living with mental illness and their loved ones. Since 1984, NAMI Anchorage has been working to fill the need in our community for support, education and advocacy for individuals who experience mental illness, their families, and friends.

Our Mission

Our Vision

Provide support, education, and advocacy for individuals affected by mental illness, their families, friends, and community.

Resiliency, recovery, and wellness for all.​

Our Services

As we are a peer-to-peer support organization, we do not offer clinical services such as counseling, therapy, or medication management. We invite all individuals affected by mental illness to attend our peer support groups and educational classes at no cost to participants. We host as well as partner with local and state organizations for awareness raising, educational, or other such community events and seminars. If you need help finding a resource, you can contact our office and our staff will do our best to connect you to the appropriate place. Contact us if you'd like to learn more!

Our Guiding Principles

NAMI Anchorage's Principles of Support represent goals that we are striving for. They are important universal truths that guide and strengthen us when we face the challenges of living with mental illness.

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  1. We will see the individual first, not the illness.

  2. We recognize that mental illnesses are medical illnesses that may have environmental triggers.

  3. We understand that a person's belief, norms, values, and language affect how we perceive and experience mental illness.

  4. We understand that mental illness is traumatic.

  5. We aim for better coping skills.

  6. ​We find strength in sharing experiences.

  7. We reject stigma and do not tolerate discrimination.

  8. We won't judge anyone's pain as less or more than our own.

  9. We forgive ourselves and reject guilt.

  10. We embrace humor as healthy.

  11. We accept we cannot resolve all problems.

  12. We expect a better future in a realistic way.

  13. We will never give up hope!

Our Staff

Jason Lessard

Executive Director

Lily Frey

Program Manager

Natalie Fraser

Youth Program Coordinator

Our Board of Directors

Kate Yenik

President

Judy Moose

Vice President

Lisa Combs

At-Large

Ute Olsson

At-Large

Louanne Lum

Treasurer

Juli Vierthaler

At-Large

Jane Thomas

Secretary

Liz Hunt

At-Large

To reach a member of the board, contact us and your message will be routed accordingly.

Avee Evans

Mini Grant Coordinator