Volunteer

Join Our Team of Dedicated Volunteers

Do you want to become a part of a national movement helping people who live with mental illness? Do you want to contribute to real change in the mental health system? NAMI-NYC Metro volunteer programs are primarily for family members and people living with mental illness. However, we welcome applications from anyone who supports the mission and goals of NAMI.

Volunteer Commitment

Volunteering at NAMI-NYC Metro in most program areas requires specialized training and supervision by a staff member. Because of this, we ask for a one year commitment for most volunteer positions.

Orientation

All new volunteers are provided an orientation to our programs, office space, staff, and the specific position to which s/he has been accepted. As a volunteer you will be asked to agree to a standard Confidentiality Agreement and volunteer contract, which outlines specific NAMI-NYC Metro policies and procedures.

To Apply

Thank you for your interest in becoming a NAMI volunteer. Please Follow these steps to apply:

  1. Download the Volunteer Application form
  2. Email the PDFs as attachments to programs@naminyc.org
  3. Please attach a resume and cover letter to that email

Volunteer Positions

Basics Course Leader (only for graduates of the course)

Parents of children who became ill before the age of 13 only. Learn to teach this 6-week course for parents of children and adolescents that reviews the impact of mental illness on the family, treatment, support, coping, and navigating child serving systems.

Clerical / Reception | Mailings | Data Entry

Volunteers assist us with office help, including mailings, answering phones, organizing files, making phone calls, creating documents in various computer applications (Word and Excel), and other office tasks. Whether you have office experience or not, we could use your help, either on a weekly or as-needed basis. Mailings are generally once a month for about 3 hours.

Family-to-Family Course Leader (only for graduates of the course)

For family members only. Learn to teach this 12-week course that reviews aspects of mental illness, support, coping, medication and treatment, and navigating the mental health system.

Helpline

Provide support, information and referrals to individuals living with mental illness, family members, and mental health professionals about services for those who struggle with mental health recovery, and their loved ones.  This “warm line” operates Monday through Friday, 11am to 6pm. You must be able to dedicate 3-4 hours per week to volunteer on the helpline. This can be done in one day or split into two shifts.

In Our Own Voice (IOOV) Presenter

For adults living with mental illness only. Develop your public speaking skills and share your personal experience of recovery from mental illness to decrease stigma and increase public awareness about mental illness. IOOV is a structured outreach presentation with which you can become a role model for hope and recovery for other mental health consumers in the community. The presentation puts a human face to mental illness and is also used to provide insight into the consumer experience of recovery for mental health professionals, students, and family members.

Library Assistant

Assist us with managing our collection of books, periodicals, and videotapes on mental health and mental illnesses. We need volunteers with computer and organizational skills who can work in the library on a regular basis to catalogue and organize library materials, and help develop the library’s collection.

Peer-to-Peer Course Leader (only for graduates of the course)

For adults living with mental illness only. Learn to teach this 12-week program for individuals who struggle with a persistent mental illness and who are interested in wellness and recovery.

Resources Assistant

Assist us with researching new and assessing current resources provided through the NAMI helpline. This position requires comfort with contacting community-based resources by phone to ensure that NAMI provides excellent information. This role may also include inviting representatives of these community-based organizations to present to NAMI volunteers and staff on their services. Experience with Wikispaces a plus!

Support Group Facilitator (for active members of a NAMI Support Group)

For family members and adults living with mental illness only. Become a peer support group leader and provide support, education, and practical knowledge to other consumers and family members. Groups meet weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly throughout New York City. If you are interested in becoming a Support Group Facilitator, please begin actively attending one of our groups before applying to volunteer.

Support Parent

For parents of adolescents or young adults under 25. Experienced parents provide a small amount of telephone support to parents whose children have been recently diagnosed or who are struggling with new challenges. This commitment is approximately six hours a month and is done from home.