NAMI Smarts for Advocacy

NAMI Smarts for Advocacy is a hands-on advocacy training developed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness to guide individuals on how to transform their passion for mental health into advocacy and action. This 2 hour in-person training is designed to give you the tools and knowledge to use your own mental health story to advocate for mental health legislation. 

Some skills and opportunities that can come out of engaging in NAMI Smarts for Advocacy are: 

  • Best practices for communicating  and holding a successful meeting with legislators

  • Creating an “elevator pitch” using your own mental health story to make an ask of legislators 

  • A greater understanding of how state and city policy and current events shape mental health care

“Sharing my story brought up a lot of emotions. Thank you for cultivating a safe space and encouraging full participation.”
— NAMI Smarts for Advocacy Participant