History of NAMI McHenry County

The story of NAMI McHenry County began in 1987 with a small group of families.   They began meeting together to seek mutual support, share their experiences of living with mental illness, and educate themselves and others about what families encounter when a family member has a mental illness.  None of that group realized then what an impact they would have in the community, and how the lives of so many would be changed.

NAMI quickly grew to serve many families in McHenry County, offering more services, at no cost to you, as more opportunities became available to offer a variety of educational classes, workshops, and support groups that appeal not only to those diagnosed with a mental illness, but to their family members and the community at large. Today, NAMI serves over 4000  individuals and families annually.

NAMI McHenry County is one of over 25 affiliates in the State of Illinois, and is an active part of NAMI Illinois and the national NAMI organization.ear, providing free referral, information and support—a much-needed lifeline for many.