There are two larger mental health advocacy organizations that target family members of adults in the state of Michigan. One is the Mental Health Association of Michigan (MHAM) and one is the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). They often collaborate on lobbying efforts and attend advocacy meetings together. When you click on the active links you will be taken to a separate page for each organization that tells you how you can find out more about them, how you can join, where meetings are held, if there is a meeting in your area, etc. MHAM and NAMI MI also support each others’ fund raising campaigns.

MHAM is associated with Mental Health America. MHAM is a United Way Organization, the first Michigan Torch Drive Agency.

Both organizations have people with a mental illness/psychiatric diagnosis as members as well. In the state of Michigan MHAM is the sole representative of Mental Health America. In some states there is a state organization with affiliates or groups throughout the state, but in Michigan there is only the state organization. There are people in Michigan who are individual members of the Mental Health Association.

MHAM's purpose is three-fold:

1. Improved care and treatment of the mentally ill
2. Prevention of mental illness
3. Promotion of positive mental health

One difference between the MHAM and NAMI is that NAMI doesn't have the prevention of mental illness as a part of its policy platform or purpose.

MHAM feels that there are several critical issues:

Establishment of mental health care as a priority of the public Funding for and provision of services to all who need them Eradication of prejudice and discrimination against the mentally ill Elimination of bio-genetic causes of mental illness Promotion of emotional well-being as an integral part of personal health maintenance

MHAM does the above things by gathering and interpreting information about mental health problems and conditions to the public and individuals who shape public policy. (They spend a lot of time lobbying for persons who have a mental illness).

The Mental Health Association of Michigan evaluates what is working and what isn't working, and makes recommendations as to how things might be made better. They also work to better link or find ways to help people get services.

MHAM has education literature available about many different mental health issues, programs and the various mental illnesses.

MHAM is passionate about insurance parity. This is where people who have a mental illness/psychiatric diagnosis can get benefits without paying extra (above and beyond what someone with a physical illness would pay). The following is a quote regarding the problem from their website:

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that 96% of insurance plans impose limits on mental health care that they do not place on physical health care. This discrimination has been seen with respect to available benefits, requirements for co-pays and deductibles, and allowable annual and lifetime dollar expenditures.

MHAM is one of the Partners for Parity Coalition.

They are a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Outreach Partner.

Both large mental health advocacy organizations are also involved in children's mental health, but there are two other advocacy organizations that cover children's mental health in the state of Michigan. Because children are, well, kids, these advocacy organizations address the needs of families that surround the children as well. These organizations are the Association for Children's Mental Health (ACMH) and the Michigan Association of Children with Emotional Disorders (MACED).