New York State
Occupational Therapy Association

Occupational therapy educators, clinicians, and students in New York City join forces with NAMI-NYC Metro, an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, to help people walk for recovery, wellness, and an end to the stigma of mental illness. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is a non-profit charitable organization whose mission is the eradication of mental illness and improvement in the quality of life for persons of all ages who are affected by mental illness. NAMI provides support, education, and advocacy for persons with mental illness and their families.

Each year NAMI holds a walk for the purpose of fundraising and publicizing their mission and services. OTs Walk With NAMI began with an idea sparked by OT mental health educators Suzanne White, Mary Donohue, and Diane Tewfik. Together with graduate student Eileen LaMourie, they created a protocol that helps OT students and other health professionals establish a 12-session wellness program that culminates in participation at the annual NAMI fundraising walk. The program was initially targeted toward people with mental illness, but transfers well to many other community settings where wellness programs are sponsored. (Read more...)