AS THE PANDEMIC WINDS DOWN, NAMI Greater Toledo is celebrating—not so much because life is returning to normal, but because it has a new place, a new initiative, and the same message that takes on renewed meaning.
“As we come out of the pandemic, so many people now have gotten a taste of how it is to live with mental health challenges,” says Robin Isenberg, NAMI—National Alliance on Mental Illness—Greater Toledo executive director. “Everyone’s had a moment or two or longer when they're stressed out or scared or fearing the unknown.”
She adds, “That’s opened the doors to conversations. People are more willing to recognize that mental illness is a real illness, not just poor behavior or the inability to ‘get your act together.’ It’s real. We need to recognize it like we do for any physical illness, like heart disease or lung disease.
“The brain is an organ like others in the body. Sometimes it gets sick. We have to take care of it.”
During the pandemic NAMI Greater Toledo did what it could to help those who were struggling with mental illness. But its efforts, such as in-person meetings, support groups, and art therapy sessions, were hampered by pandemic restrictions.
“It’s been a bad couple of years for NAMI and the people who rely on us,” Isenberg says.
Adding to those woes—even before the pandemic hit—was that NAMI Greater Toledo’s office lacked adequate space. “As we grew in the past 10 years or so, we added staff. There were boxes all over the place. We were packed in like sardines.”
Then late last year NAMI received a grant from the Lucas County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board that enabled a move to the previously vacated Harbor building on Secor Road across from the Toledo Clinic. After some renovation, in late January Harbor returned its administrative offices to the building’s second floor, and NAMI occupied the first floor.
“There’s lots of open areas, a lot of parking, and a warm and welcoming entrance—things we didn’t have at our old place,” Isenberg says. “It was a priority to get back. We knew people were struggling.”
With its new place came a new initiative for NAMI. “We are in a position to expand, and we have room for growth. Mental health has become a hot topic, and people are recognizing that—as we say—it’s OK to not be OK. Organizations want to partner with us. Companies are on board with mental health education related to the workplace. That’s what has opened up for us.
“Companies want us to do an education program to bust the stigma surrounding talking about mental health. We’re educating employers and coworkers how it affects the bottom line and productivity. Again, it’s OK to not be OK.
“Companies realize that when their workers are struggling with mental health challenges, or supporting a family member who is, it affects life at work—it’s hard to stay focused if you’re worried about what’s happening at home or have an untreated anxiety. Or the coworker in the cubicle next to you may be struggling, and if he or she seems down, it’s OK to talk about it.”
Isenberg says the goal of this new initiative is to make the workplace a mental health supportive space. That includes removing the stigma of calling off sick as a mental health day instead of using a traditional health-related illness as an excuse.
“We’re in a new place with new opportunities to make connections, new initiatives. It’s a new era for NAMI, and the timing is perfect. Everybody has gotten a little taste of what it’s like to live with mental health challenges.”
Isenberg says NAMI takes walkins at its new site, 4334 Secor Road. NAMI also can be reached through its website, namitoledo.org, or by phone, 419-243-1119.
She adds that NAMI’s message is the same: “It’s OK to not be OK, and no one has to walk that journey alone.”
Dennis Bova is a freelance writer and editor.
