NAMI Central Iowa

09/02/2026

Every step taken at the NAMIWalks event helps bring hope, support, education, and advocacy to individuals and families impacted by mental health conditions.

This year, NAMI Central Iowa has set a goal of raising $80,000, and we cannot do it without the support of our community.

We are asking friends, families, businesses, community partners, and mental health advocates to join us in making a difference. Whether you donate, form a team, become a sponsor, or help spread the word, your support directly impacts the lives of those we serve.

Together, we can ensure that no one faces a mental health journey alone.

Will you help us reach our $80,000 goal and bring hope to more individuals and families across Central Iowa?

To donate or register for the walk, visit our website and join the movement for mental health.

I'm supporting NAMI!

09/01/2026

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Board of Supervisors in Story County for their support and for proclaiming September as Su***de Awareness Month. Your commitment helps shine a light on mental health, encourages hope, and reminds our community that every life matters.

08/31/2026

🍂 September is a Season of Growth, Connection, and Recovery 🍂

As the days begin to cool and the colors of fall start to emerge, we are reminded that change can be beautiful. Just as the seasons transition, recovery is a journey of growth, resilience, and new beginnings.

This September, NAMI Central Iowa invites you to join us for a variety of wellness activities, recovery-focused workbooks, peer connections, creative expression, and practical support services. Whether you’re taking your first step in recovery or continuing your journey, there is a place for you here.

Together, we’ll explore self-awareness, stress management, coping skills, purpose, boundaries, and hope. We’ll honor Su***de Prevention Month, celebrate Recovery Month, and continue building a community where every voice matters and every person belongs.

🌻 Recovery is not about perfection—it’s about progress.
🍁 Growth happens one step, one connection, and one day at a time.
💙 We look forward to walking alongside you this season.

Join us this September as we learn, connect, heal, and grow together.

***dePreventionMonth 🍂💙

08/31/2026

💜Today, NAMI Central Iowa had the privilege of traveling to Newton in Jasper County to present at Optimae LifeServices.
We are grateful for the opportunity to connect with individuals, providers, and community members who generously shared their lived experiences and perspectives.

Throughout our discussion, one word emerged again and again: CHANGE.

Participants spoke passionately about the need for continued improvements within the behavioral health care system and the importance of ensuring that individuals with lived experience have a meaningful seat at the table. These conversations are exactly why NAMI’s advocacy work matters.

We shared how NAMI Central Iowa is working to drive positive change through education, advocacy, peer support, and community engagement while actively elevating the voices of those with lived experience. Real change happens when people are heard, valued, and empowered to help shape the systems designed to serve them.

Thank you to Optimae LifeServices and everyone who participated in today’s conversation. Together, we can continue building a more responsive, compassionate, and recovery-focused behavioral health system for all.
Pictured ⬇️ below
Kim Sangster
Community Integration Coordinator for Optimae.

08/29/2026

💙 Peer Support Belongs in the System 💙

Lived experience is more than a personal journey—it is professional expertise.

Peer Support Specialists bring hope, understanding, and real-world knowledge that cannot be learned from a textbook alone.
Through their own experiences with mental health challenges and recovery, they help others feel seen, heard, and understood in ways that foster trust, connection, and healing.
Peer support strengthens our behavioral health system by reducing stigma, increasing engagement in services, promoting recovery, and reminding individuals that they are not alone.
When people with lived experience have a seat at the table, systems become more compassionate, effective, and person-centered.

At NAMI Central Iowa, we recognize the value of peer support and the vital role Peer Support Specialists play in helping individuals and families navigate their mental health journeys. Recovery is possible, and peer support helps light the path forward.

✨ Because lived experience matters.
✨ Because recovery is real.
✨ Because peer support belongs in the system.

💙

08/29/2026

“Peer Support: Building Stronger Workplaces Through Connection, Hope, and Understanding.”

Peer support is more than a service—it is a powerful tool that strengthens workplaces, supports employee well-being, and creates a culture of understanding.

Peer Support Specialists bring lived experience, hope, and practical strategies that help individuals navigate challenges, reduce feelings of isolation, and build resilience. In the workplace, peer support can improve morale, increase engagement, reduce stigma surrounding mental health, and encourage employees to seek help before challenges become crises.

When people feel seen, heard, and supported, they are more likely to thrive both personally and professionally. Peer support helps foster connection, trust, and a sense of belonging—essential ingredients for a healthy and productive workforce.

At NAMI Central Iowa, we believe that mental health matters in every workplace. By investing in peer support, organizations invest in their most valuable asset: their people.

Together, we can create workplaces where recovery, wellness, and success are possible for everyone.

08/28/2026

💙 National Thoughtful Day

Today is a beautiful reminder that small acts of thoughtfulness can make a BIG difference.

A simple “How are you really doing?”
A text to let someone know you’re thinking about them.
A listening ear without judgment.
An invitation to join you.
A kind word on a difficult day.
Or simply reminding someone, “You matter. You are not alone.”

For someone living with a mental health condition, these small moments of connection can mean more than we realize. Sometimes, knowing that someone cares can be the encouragement a person needs to keep going.

At NAMI Central Iowa, we believe in creating communities where everyone feels seen, heard, valued, and supported. 💙

Today, we challenge you to be intentional about kindness.

Who can you reach out to today?
Who might need a little extra encouragement?
Who needs to be reminded that they matter?

🌱 Be thoughtful. Be kind. Be present. You never know the difference you might make.

08/26/2026

Thank You to Our Bronze NAMIWalks Sponsor! 💙💚

On behalf of NAMI Central Iowa, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our generous sponsor for supporting NAMIWalks. Your commitment to mental health awareness and advocacy helps us provide education, support, and hope to individuals and families affected by mental health conditions throughout our community.

Because of partners like you, we can continue breaking down stigma, connecting people to resources, and ensuring that no one has to face a mental health journey alone.

Thank you for standing with us, walking beside us, and investing in a future where mental health is prioritized and every person feels supported.

Together, we are creating stronger communities and changing lives.

08/25/2026

Walk for Recovery! 💚💚💚

Recovery from serious mental illness is not only possible, but for many people living with mental illness today, probable.
The notion of recovery involves a variety of perspectives.

Recovery is a holistic process that includes traditional elements of physical health, and aspects of recovery extend beyond medication.

Recovery from serious mental illness also includes the idea of attaining and maintaining physical health as another cornerstone of wellness.

People in recovery make important contributions to their communities.
Hope for recovery should be reflected in all treatments, services, and supports.

The recovery journey is unique for each individual.

There are several definitions of recovery; some grounded in medical and clinical values, some grounded in context of community and successful living.

One of the most important principles of recovery is this: recovery is a process, not an event.
The uniqueness and individual nature of recovery must be honored.

For NAMI, recovery is a foundational principle.
While serious mental illness impacts individuals in many challenging ways, the concept that all individuals can move towards wellness is paramount.
A strengths-based approach is a cornerstone for NAMI initiatives, activities, and efforts.
Many NAMI members living with mental illness have benefited from the various opportunities within the organization.
NAMI Central Iowa has become a vehicle for recovery, and a pathway towards wellness.
Join us October 17th and walk for recovery 💚💚💚