What’s Going On at NAMI NoVA in September

RJ Hamster

What’s Going On at NAMI NoVA in September

September 2025, #1

ABOUT US

NEED HELP

WAYS TO GIVE

These are just a few of our offerings this month. For a full listing of our free to attend NAMI programs, additional details, and registration information, please visit the calendar on our website.

Mondays in September – NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group – In-Person, EVERY Monday, Fairfax, 6:45-8:15 pm. Register here.

Wednesday, Sept. 3 – NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group for LGBTQ+ – Online, 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 6:45 – 8:15 pm. Register here.

Wednesday, Sept. 10 – NAMI Family Support Group: Parents of Young Adults – In-Person in Falls Church, 2nd Wednesday, 7:30 – 9:00 pm. Register here.

Thursday, Sept. 11 – NAMI Family Support Group – Online, 2nd Thursday, 7:30 – 9:00 pm. Register here.

Thursday, Sept. 11 – NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group – Online, 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 7:00 – 8:45 pm. Register here.

Tuesday, Sept. 16 – NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group for Young Adults (18-36) – Online, 3rd Tuesday, 7:30 – 9:00 pm. Register here.

Sunday Sept. 21 – NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group – Online, 3rd Saturday, 10:00 – 11:30 am. Register here.

Monday, Sept. 29 – EVENT – Unmuted: Mental Health Stories, Strength, and Solutions in BIPOC Communities – Arlington, 5:30 pm. More information and to register here.

Tuesday, Sept. 30 – Public youth presentation – NAMI In Our Own Voice for Youth. In-Person, Falls Church. More information and to here.

DATE: Monday, September 29, 2025

TIME: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm event

Registration & Networking – 5:30 pm
Event Begins – 6:00 pm

LOCATION: Kenmore Middle School – 200 S Carlin Springs Rd, Arlington, VA

Registration Required.

Unmuted: Mental Health Stories, Strength, & Solutions in our BIPOC Communities

Honoring the diversity of our community and recognizing Suicide Prevention Month, join us on Monday, September 29, for an impactful evening discussing how we address stigma within communities of color, how culture shapes mental health experiences, available resources, and what we need to do to create community-level solutions and systems changes.

KEYNOTE: Julius D. “JD” Spain, Sr., Member, Arlington County Board

PANELISTS INCLUDE:

Monique Bryant, Executive Director, Challenging Racism
United Community
Hyun Sun Park, Director of Health Services, Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington
Solomon Ayalew, DMV Chapter Director, African Communities Together
Karuna Antani, MSW, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)

In Our Own Voice for Youth & Young Adults

Open and Free for the Public

Registration required. If young person under the age of 16 is attending without a parent or guardian, a permission form found HERE must be completed in advance.

During In Our Own Voice for Youth & Young Adults presentations, young adults with mental health conditions share their powerful personal stories in order to change attitudes, assumptions, and stereotypes. Presentations provide:

A first-hand account of what it’s like to live with a mental health condition. Our young adult presenters humanize this misunderstood topic by demonstrating that it’s possible – and common – to live well with a mental illness.
A chance to ask the presenters questions, which allows for a deeper understanding of mental health conditions.
The understanding that every person living with a mental illness can hope for a bright future.

In Our Own Voice for Youth & Young Adults is best suited for audiences between the ages of 14-30.

Registration is required. You will be sent the address in Falls Church after registering.

YOUTH PERMISSION SLIP

NAMI Sharing Your Story with Law Enforcement (SYSLE) is a meaningful volunteer opportunity where individuals affected by mental illness—either personally or as family members—are trained to share their experiences with law enforcement officers during Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trainings.

Through this program, you’ll gain tools, guidance, and support to share your story in a way that builds empathy and changes perspectives. Officers consistently report that hearing these real-life stories helps them better understand mental illness and equips them to respond with greater compassion during mental health crises.

“NAMI volunteers have shown up at our department’s Crisis Intervention classes for several years, willingly opening up to officers, deputies, dispatchers, and others in the first responder field, exhibiting incredible vulnerability, providing personal perspectives, helping students better understand living with mental illness and/or substance abuse recovery, etc. Our students have thanked the volunteers again and again, both in-person, and in the class evaluations. Students have reported their perspectives changing and being better equipped to respond with increased empathy when called for/by individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.”

Have you or a loved one been impacted by mental illness and had experiences with law enforcement? Are you passionate about creating change and fostering understanding? You have a powerful story—and it could help save lives.

Your voice can truly make a difference. Join us in our mission to ensure that every law enforcement officer hears the human side of mental illness—your side.

Volunteer today. Inspire empathy. Help shape safer, more compassionate responses to mental health crises.

TELL US YOU WANT TO BE A SYSLE PRESENTER

BECOME A PARTNER IN HOPE

One month of awareness, twelve months of impact. Set up a recurring donation and help us make Mental Health for All a reality all year long.

With a recurring donation, you can help ensure our support, education, and advocacy continue all year.

Learn more HERE.

NAMI Northern Virginia is a 48-year old 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to serve Northern Virginia individuals, family members, and friends affected by mental health challenges through awareness, education, support, advocacy, and collaboration with community partners.