Today there is one organization that speaks for all of Georgia's chronically mentally ill.
Since its inception in 1982, NAMI Georgia's collective strength and leadership have become the voice of Georgia's mentally ill. Local chapters conduct regular meetings where families share experiences and advice and learn to cope with the stigma of mental illness. Through its telephone referral service, NAMI Georgia and its local affiliates guide hundreds of callers each year to appropriate professionals, mental health services and agencies who can help meet their needs. Therefore, NAMI Georgia's educational programs are directed not only to the chronically mentally ill and their families, but to the community as a whole. Through public presentations to community clubs and organizations and interviews with television, radio and newspaper reporters, members share their stories and the truths about mental illness and help reduce the stigma that surrounds it.