general information

A mental illness is a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling, behavior, or mood. Left untreated, they can profoundly disrupt a person’s daily life. Recovery is possible with proper treatment. Successful recovery involves learning about your illness and the treatments available, empowering yourself through the support of peers and family members, and taking action to manage your own illness.

At the heart of NAMI NH’s mission is the sharing of information with individuals, their families, friends, mental health professionals, and the general public. We strive to educate all people about mental health conditions, to eliminate stigma, and to promote access to integrated systems of care and rehabilitation. Click here to learn more about specific mental health conditions from NAMI. 

The links below provide valuable resources for recovery from a mental health condition:

Mental Health In New Hampshire Fact Sheet

Community Mental Health Centers in NH provide an array of services and supports and 24/7 emergency services.

Peer Support Agencies provide services by and for people living with a mental illness to assist in their recovery.

Support Groups – NAMI NH offers groups in communities across the state that are facilitated by a trained leader with lived experience who is a family member, parent/caregiver, or person in recovery from a mental health condition.

Onward NH – find help and resources for First Episode Psychosis (FEP) and Early Serious Mental Illness (ESMI).

How to Access Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Benefits – 2023 Update

NH Insurance Department – If you have concerns that your health insurance carrier has failed to comply with state or federal insurance laws, including parity laws, you should contact the New Hampshire Insurance Department for questions or submit a complaint.

Parity: Similar costs and benefits for mental health, substance use disorder, and medical treatments. The costs and benefits do not have to be exactly equal to meet parity standards− just similar.

If you have questions or need assistance making a complaint, you can contact the New Hampshire Insurance Department Consumer Services Unit at 800-852-3416 or by email at consumerservices@ins.nh.gov

NAMI NH maintains additional resource pages on specific topics including information about incidents of violence.

Mental health parity infographic.

NAMI NH offers a variety of supports to family members who have a loved one with mental illness. In addition to those listed below, we have a large variety of printed materials on various mental illnesses.

Information & Resource Line – To connect with resources and support in the Granite State, call 1-800-242-6264, Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Family Support Groups – Offered around the state for family members and friends of adults with mental illness

NAMI FaithNet Resources – Interfaith resources meant to help educate and inspire faith communities about mental illness and the vital role spirituality plays in recovery for many.

NAMI NH offers a variety of supports to parents who have a child/adolescent with serious emotional disorders. In addition to those listed below, we have a large variety of printed materials on various mental illnesses. Click the links below for more information.

Parent/Caregiver Guidebook – For parents and caregivers of children/adolescents with serious emotional disorders

Parent Support Groups – Offered around the state for parents who have a child/adolescent with serious emotional disorders

One-on-One Support – Our Family Support Specialist provides one-on-one support to family members seeking assistance – call (603) 225-5359

Information & Resource Line – Call (800) 242-6264, Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm

NH Family Network (NHFN) – Provides support, education, and advocacy for families supporting youth and children living with mental health challenges.

FAST Forward Wraparound Program – Families and Systems Together (FAST) Forward is New Hampshire’s program that provides youth and family-driven wraparound services focused on keeping the child/youth in their home community.

Acute Crisis Care – New Hampshire DHHS

What to Look For and When to Act – NAMI National

Getting Your Child Mental Health Support and Accommodations in School – NAMI National

Protecting the Rights of Parents and Prospective Parents with Disabilities

What Families Can Do When a Child May Have a Mental Illness

If you are worried about your child’s mental health, follow your instincts. Unexplained changes in a child’s behavior and/or mood may be the early warning signs of a mental health condition and should never be ignored.

There are many different types of mental illness, and it isn’t easy to simplify the range of challenges children face. One way to begin to get a handle on this question is to get an evaluation of your child or teen by a licensed mental health professional. Because all children and youth are unique and the local mental health services, insurance coverage and school services vary a great deal from community to community, it is a challenge to find the right kind of help for your child.

NH Children’s Behavioral Health Plan

Learn how you can help move forward the building of a comprehensive, integrated child serving system of care

NH Children’s System of Care Website

Webinar: Guardianship & Supported Decision Making

Side by Side – A program promoting mental health for older adults, their families, and caregivers.

Dartmouth Aging Resource Center: Aging Resource Center | DHMC and Clinics (dartmouth-hitchcock.org)

Center for Mental Health & Aging:  Mental Health Education for Older Adults, Caregivers & Professionals (mentalhealthandaging.com)

This Chair Rocks: This Chair Rocks – pushing back against ageism—which affects everyone

Part 1 of the Elder Health Video Series from the Endowment for Health

Part 2 of the Elder Health Video Series from the Endowment for Health

Military & Veteran Family-Specific Support

NAMI Homefront offers an online suite of mental health resources for military service members and veterans, as well as their families, caregivers, and friends. The NAMI Homefront educational program is designed to address the unique needs of family, caregivers, and friends of those who have served or are currently serving our country. The program is taught by trained family members of service members/veterans living with mental health conditions.

One-on-One Support is also available. To learn more, please contact the NAMI NH Information & Resource Line – 1-800-242-6264 (press 4).

Online Support Group – NH Veterans and Military Families Supporting Each Other is facilitated by a NAMI NH staff member.  This is a closed private Facebook group where folks can share ideas, information, and resources. You can join simply by searching the group name on Facebook and submitting a request to join along with answering a few screening questions.

Military OneSource Exceptional Family Member Program – Support for managing care and services for a family member with special needs.

Blue Star Support Circles – Eight-week program fostering peer-based connections, providing resources and referrals, and empowering military and Veteran family members and supporters.


Webinar Recording — The Impact of Caregiving on Military and Veteran Caregivers

To learn more about these, and other supports and resources, please contact: The NAMI NH Information & Resource Line – 1-800-242-6264 (press 4).

NAMI New Hampshire programs and supports are open to all individuals and families affected by mental health conditions and suicide. The mental health resources below offer support specifically for our community members who are immigrants and refugees.

Please note: The resources included here are not endorsed by NAMI New Hampshire, and NAMI New Hampshire is not responsible for the content of, or service provided, by any of these resources.

Welcoming NH
Welcoming New Hampshire is a coalition of organizations around the state focused on supporting immigrants and refugees by listening to and addressing community concerns.

Overcomers NH
Overcomers Refugee Services is a resource center for refugees and immigrants. They provide support, education and cultural orientation in a number of different languages.

NH DHHS Refugee Program
The NH DHHS Refugee Program helps refugees with economic self-sufficiency and integration.

New Hampshire Alliance of Immigrants and Refugees
The New Hampshire Alliance of Immigrants and Refugees (NHAIR) is an organization that helps immigrants and refugees become voters and leaders.

New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation is a philanthropic organization that awards grants and scholarships each year to nonprofits and New Hampshire students. They are dedicated to giving to a variety of causes including immigrant and refugee services in New Hampshire.

Ascentria Care Alliance
The Ascentria Care Alliance provides wrap-around services that help individuals and families navigate transitions in life and break the cycle of poverty.

Association of Bosniaks of New Hampshire
The Association of Bosniak’s of New Hampshire is a group building awareness around Bosniak values and identities to help immigrants have a positive integration into society in NH.

Building Community in NH
Building Community in New Hampshire is an organization run by and for refugees, with the goal of providing support to those rebuilding their lives here in New Hampshire.

NH Brazilian Council
The NH Brazilian Council provides services to New Hampshire’s Brazilian population in order to help them thrive and be contributors to NH.

Centro Latino de Hospitalid
Centro Latino de Hospitaliad is a community serving organization focused on providing support and answering questions for individuals in underserved populations such as the immigrant and refugee populations in New Hampshire.

Franco-American Center
The Franco-American Center in Manchester provides classes, social activities and cultural events that promote education about french culture, heritage and language.

International Institute of New England
The International Institute of New England provides opportunities for immigrants and refugees to find success during resettlement, through education, career advancement and helping navigate pathways to citizenship.

Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success
The Organization for Immigrant and Refugee Success helps new Americans find employment, understand American healthcare and banking systems and learn English through trainings, resources and opportunities for self-sufficiency.

SNHU- Center for New Americans- YWCA
The Center for New Americans- YWCA is a program focused on empowering women, eliminating racism and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity. This program is dedicated to being a safe and welcoming space for New Americans.

Safari Youth Club
The Safari Youth Club supports New American families by providing academic support, athletic and artistic opportunities and by providing assistance to families as they integrate into their new communities.

Turkish Cultural Center of NH
The Turkish Cultural Center NH helps Turkish Americans by providing education, seminars, festivals, dinners and more in order to build a cross-cultural understanding and mutual respect for Turkish culture and individuals here in New Hampshire.