Nonprofit Spotlight: National Alliance on Mental Illness Delaware

In a world where nearly one in five adults in the U.S. experiences a mental illness each year, access to compassionate, community-based support and care has never been more critical. That’s where the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Delaware steps in.

As a leading mental health advocacy organization in the state, NAMI Delaware is transforming the way people think about mental illness, starting with support, education, and systemic change. “Our mission is simple,” says CEO Marie Wenzel. “We support, educate, and advocate until there is a cure.”

Founded in 1983 by Simon and Jill Shute along with a small group of families, NAMI Delaware has grown into a trusted statewide resource. Today, NAMI offers peer-led support groups, family programs, educational courses, housing, and legislative advocacy, serving thousands of Delawareans each year. Wenzel emphasizes that recovery is not just about therapy or medication. It’s about making connections.

“We know recovery happens best via community and relationships,” Wenzel says. That is why NAMI’s support, led by peers or family members with lived experience, is so effective. Support groups are structured, confidential, and free of charge, designed to bring together individuals and families navigating the complexities of mental illness. “There is something powerful about being in a room with someone who truly understands what you are going through.”

NAMI’s educational programs are equally essential and reach far beyond the classroom. Initiatives like NAMI Basics, Family-to-Family, QPR Suicide Prevention Training, and Mental Health First Aid are offered both in person and virtually.

Wenzel notes that these programs reach community centers, schools, universities, and employers, teaching people how to recognize signs of mental health challenges and connect to care. “We go into all sorts of community centers, health fairs, and partner organizations so people know we exist and what we offer,” says Wenzel.

That outreach extends beyond daily programming to larger events like the Inspiring Hope Conference on Oct. 16, featuring keynote speaker Tamika Tremaglio, former head of the National Basketball Players Association and now managing director at Secretariat and treasurer of the Born This Way Foundation.

On the policy front, NAMI Delaware has recently scored major victories, most notably supporting the creation of Delaware’s first state office of suicide prevention. NAMI also advocated for geo-routing improvements to the national 988 mental health crisis line, ensuring callers are connected to local support based on their physical location, not just their area code. NAMI has trained more than 750 first responders statewide in Crisis Intervention Team techniques, aiming to ensure that individuals in crisis are met with compassion not punishment.

Beyond services and advocacy, NAMI Delaware is also the state’s largest provider of permanent, affordable housing for people with chronic mental illness. “Stable housing is a foundation for recovery,” says Wenzel.

The residences NAMI offers incorporate stability, safety, and connection — all key components in long-term recovery. However, the support does not stop at a roof over someone’s head. Residents are encouraged to engage with NAMI services including peer support, advocacy opportunities, and social connection.

What surprises most people, Wenzel adds, is that NAMI offers free services. This level of accessibility is intentional. NAMI understands that those facing mental health challenges often face financial hardship, systemic inequality, or a lack of insurance coverage. In a time when accessing care can come with overwhelming costs, NAMI removes those barriers.

Through every support group, policy win, and outreach event, NAMI Delaware is sending a clear message: no one has to face mental illness alone.