Youth Advisory Board

Applications Now Open!

Applications open from 9/1 - 9/30

Do you want to make a difference in youth mental health while building your leadership skills? Join NAMI Eastside's Youth Advisory Board (YAB) and help shape youth programs, advocacy efforts, and community outreach initiatives.

As a YAB member, you'll help guide our annual Youth Mental Health Conference (YMHC), contribute to educational programming, advocate for mental health at the local and state levels, and serve as a voice for youth in our community. This is a great opportunity to develop leadership experience, connect with like-minded peers, and create meaningful change.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Alondra Torres at:
(opens in new tab)

(opens in new tab)

Behavioral Health Policy
Now & in the Future

9/15 | 6PM | Together Center, Redmond
FREE DINNER PROVIDED!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! join us at our Community Dialogue with Elected Officials on September 15 in partnership with the Eastside Asian Pacific Islander Coalition: Forum Behavioral Health Policy - Now & Future.

King County Executive Girmay Zahilay, State Rep. My-Lin Thai, State Rep. Osman Salahuddin, State Senator Vandana Slatter, and State Rep. Carolyn Eslick are all attending the September 15 Forum.

Join us virtually, or in person, for an important community conversation about the future of behavioral health in our region. This free event brings together community members, advocates, and elected officials to discuss current behavioral health priorities, the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan (WTSP), and the actions needed to strengthen mental health services at the state, county, and city levels.

📍 Together Center | 16305 NE 87th St., Suite 122, Redmond, WA
⏰ Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
💻 Virtual option available via Zoom
🎟️ Attendance & Dinner is free! 

safeTALK Suicide Prevention

9/12 & 9/21

Help make a difference this coming Suicide Prevention Month in your community by joining NAMI Eastside WA’s safeTALK Suicide Prevention Class.
*9/21 Class is for Senior Citizens*
📅Date: September 12, 2026 & September 21, 2026
Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm
📍 Locations:

9/12: Together Center, Redmond (click here to register!)
9/21: Shoreline Senior Center | 18560 1st Ave NE  Bldg. (click here to register!)
This interactive, no-experience-needed training equips participants with practical tools to recognize when someone may be struggling and how to connect them to lifesaving support. The workshop includes guided practice, engaging activities, and lunch. Whether you’re a friend, family member, or community member, you can learn how to start supportive conversations and help save lives.

You're Invited!
World Mental Health Day Annual Gala

Join us on October 9 at the beautiful Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue for our Annual World Mental Health Day Gala(opens in new tab), an inspiring evening dedicated to honoring the lives we've touched, the progress we've made together, and the work that still lies ahead.

For the past 25 years, NAMI Eastside has been helping break the stigma surrounding mental health while connecting thousands of community members with vital resources, support groups, educational programs, and advocacy efforts. As the need for mental health support continues to grow, so does our commitment to ensuring that no one has to face mental health challenges alone.

The evening will feature: 

✨ A delicious dinner and inspiring program
✨ Stories of hope, resilience, and community impact
✨ Opportunities to support NAMI Eastside's life-changing work
✨ An exciting LIVE AUCTION featuring incredible travel experiences, sought-after sporting event tickets, exclusive packages, and much more!

(opens in new tab)(opens in new tab)(opens in new tab)(opens in new tab)

Volunteer Opportunity:

Pride Across The Bridge

Saturday 9/5

Pride Across the Bridge

Our next opportunity is Pride Across the Bridge, a free, annual, family-friendly LGBTQ+ festival on Seattle's Eastside. This event fills a long-standing resource gap for queer individuals living east of Lake Washington, who historically lacked the local infrastructure found in Seattle.

NAMI Eastside will be tabling at the festival on Saturday, September 5th to share information about our free mental health programs and other resources. Volunteers will help set up, break down, or join a NAMI Eastside staff member at our table to engage with attendees.

Click here to learn more and sign up for Pride Across the Bridge

Mental Health First Aid Certification Class
Monthly Classes Throughout King County!

This class teaches you how to recognize and respond to signs of mental health or substance use challenges. You'll learn simple, practical ways to support friends, family, coworkers, or others in your community—while keeping your own safety and well-being in mind. Just like CPR helps in a medical emergency, Mental Health First Aid gives you the tools to help someone in need and strengthen your community.

This class includes 6.5 hours of in-person instruction and 2 hours of online self-paced prework.

Attendees must be 18+ to participate.

WE ARE NAMI EASTSIDE

East King County Affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness

We are a community-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life for those impacted by a mental health condition through Advocacy, Education, and Support.

Our Mission

The mission of NAMI Eastside is to provide advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that all people impacted by mental illness and mental health conditions can lead healthy and productive lives.

How can we help you?

Thank you to our Annual Sponsors!

Ignite Kirkland: Supporting Mental Health, Strengthening Our Community

Ignite Kirkland: Supporting Mental Health, Strengthening Our Community At NAMI Eastside, we believe that strong communities are built on connection, compassion, and access to care. That’s why we’re proud to be part of Ignite Kirkland, a community-driven campaign through the Kirkland Community Foundation that uplifts local nonprofits and connects neighbors with meaningful ways to give…

Read More »

Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week: Why Early Recognition Matters

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this year, May 4–10,  2026, marks Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week (TDAW); a national effort to spotlight a serious but often overlooked movement disorder that affects hundreds of thousands of people in the United States. TDAW brings together the mental health community, healthcare providers, advocates, care partners, and people living…

Read More »

NAMI Eastside Remains Strong and Here for You

You may have seen the recent Seattle Times story about NAMI Washington and its dissolution. I want you to hear directly from us: NAMI Eastside is strong, and we are here for our community. For 25 years, our grassroots organization has been at the frontlines of supporting, educating, and advocating for families, peers, and friends…

Read More »

In Loving Memory | Girish Joshi

We are saddened to share the news that our board member, Girish Joshi, passed away unexpectedly last week. Girish was a dedicated advocate for youth mental health and a powerful voice in the work to end stigma. As a Mental Health First Aid facilitator, he helped educate and empower countless community members. He also played…

Read More »

Mitigating Crisis Around the Holidays: A Guide for Adults with Bipolar Disorder, Burned Out Professionals, and Mental Health Caregivers | By: Michelle Solomon LICSW

While holidays and the end of the year are often associated with celebration, connection with loved ones, traditions, and planning for the year ahead, they can also be met with chaos, stress, triggers, and sometimes even unexpected crises. As a licensed therapist that specializes in bipolar disorder, burnout, and mental health caregiving, I want to…

Read More »

Building a Resilient Future: Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention – By: Harkirat Kaur

A Personal Story: Olivia’s Silent StruggleI want to share a story about my best friend, Olivia-the star of our school’s volleyball team, admired by peers and teachers alike. Olivia and I shared a bond that felt unbreakable. We had the same P.E. and first period classes, shared lunch periods, and spent nearly every school day…

Read More »

Honoring Our 2025 Mental Health Champions: Senator Manka Dhingra and Congressman Adam Smith

As NAMI Eastside prepares to celebrate our annual Gala on Friday, October 10, 2025, (tickets are still available here) we are proud to recognize two extraordinary leaders as this year’s Mental Health Champions — Senator Manka Dhingra and Congressman Adam Smith. These honorees exemplify what it means to lead with compassion, courage, and commitment to…

Read More »

NAMI Advocacy: New Executive Order on Homelessness, Plus Good News on 988

Late yesterday afternoon, Thursday, July 24, the White House released a new Executive Order from President Trump entitled “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets” (read the full text and fact sheet). NAMI is deeply concerned about this order, which largely focuses on people with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorders. Earlier today, NAMI…

Read More »

We'd love to hear from you!

Contact Us

By providing a telephone number and submitting the form you are consenting to be contacted by SMS text message. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out of further messaging.

In response to COVID-19, Washington has launched Washington Listens, a support program and phone line to help people manage elevated levels of stress due to the pandemic. Callers will speak with a support specialist and get connected to community resources in their area. The program is anonymous.

The support line is available from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. TTY and language access services are available by using 7-1-1 or their preferred method.

TAKING A STAND FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

In the face of the killing of George Floyd and so many persons of color before him, we cannot carry on with “business as usual”. It is up to each of us, and all of us together, to express our solidarity and our support for the eradication of systemic racism.
Silence communicates acquiescence. We will not be silent. We will raise our voices to challenge the denial of human rights and basic decency. Our nation is in crisis and out of this crisis comes the imperative for structural change. We must work to significantly change our systems, institutions, and attitudes. As a community, we insist on the positive changes sought by the “Black Lives Matter” movement. It is simply not enough to make statements. NAMI Eastside board members and staff commit to educating ourselves more about systemic racism. As we learn, we will take an ongoing inventory of our mental health programs and communication systems in order to identify and eliminate racism and bias within our organization.

You are not alone. Black Lives Matter.

In solidarity,

NAMI Eastside Board of Directors and Staff

If you’re looking for ways to get involved, here are a few organizations looking for volunteers and donations:

“Before NAMI Eastside, I was afraid to talk about my mental health diagnosis. I was afraid people would think of me differently. Today, I am not afraid to tell people that I have struggled through things.”

SUNSHINE GRAHAM,
Volunteer