Anchorage -together organization under the direction of the lawyer of mental health offers Alaskaners a lifeline woman

Anchorage, Alaska (Ktuu) – May is month for mental health, and Nami Anchorage uses the time to remind the community that help is available and hope is possible.

The local non -profit organization is a small but important resource for Alaskans who navigate psychological challenges.

“We are the oldest organization for peer support in the USA,” said Annie Ferry, managing director of Nami Anchorage.

Ferry entered the role nine months ago, but her connection to Nami runs much deeper. She brings experience to her leadership, which shapes her mission every day.

“I'm autistic. I have ADHD,” she said. “I understand the fight. I understand the thoughts of suicide. I understand the isolation. I understand the depression that is connected to all of them.”

Nami Anchorage offers weekly aid groups on Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Central Lutheran Church. They also offer educational programs for families and safe spaces in which people can speak openly about their experiences.

For Ferry, it's not just about offering services, but also about building up a stigma -free community.

“One of the most powerful messages that may be able to get out of there is that there is no stigma. There are no shame,” she said.

Even through leadership transitions and the pandemic, Nami Anchorage has retained his weekly Saturday -peer -Support groups and continued to train and enable families.

“We saw how people moved into the landscape of social work, the therapeutic landscape because they saw the power of the peer support and these programs,” said Ferry.

The organization currently needs volunteers to meet the growing demand, but Ferry emphasizes that Nami -Anchorage is still there for everyone who needs help.

“Call us further. We have the resources. We are here to support them. We are here to listen to you.”

For the ferry, the work is deeply personal and for those who make the call, it could be life -changing.

Nami Alaska covers the entire state, but they also have connected companies in Juneau, Fairbanks and on the northern slope.

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