The Alliance on Mental Illness, locally, statewide and nationally is an example of the American tradition of self-help and volunteerism. Built on solid blocks of mutual support, education and advocacy, NAMI family members come together for mutual assistance in satisfying a common need to overcome the life-disrupting problems caused by serious mental illnesses, and to initiate social changes to deal with these problems in our local communities. Most families come to NAMI with very little knowledge about mental illnesses, seeking to understand the puzzling disorder which has stricken someone in their family. They come to family support groups to learn, to share their experiences, their frustrations, their deep concerns with others who know first-hand the destruction and devastation mental illness creates for individuals and families. Out of a learning experience together, members of NAMI are prepared and strengthened to reach out into the community to begin to create the necessary changes that must come about in our society. The National Alliance on Mental Illness, formed in 1979, has through the efforts of families like those in the Memphis Alliance, achieved national recognition for changes which are beginning to take place in our mental health delivery systems nationwide. NAMI Memphis Phone: 901-725-0305 Fax: 901-725-0306 E-mail: vblackNami@bellsouth.net