News

Dear Friends, I write to you today full of excitement, anticipation, and hope for the future of NAMI Central Texas and the mental health of our community. Leading NAMI Central Texas as executive director for the last seven years has been my great privilege. We have grown and expanded to serve more [...]

We are so proud and excited to announce three new members to our staff. “We are thrilled to welcome Lorie, Rebecca and Ricky to the NAMI Central Texas family,” said Executive Director Karen Ranus. “They are a welcome addition and each come with unique skills and perspectives on mental health that [...]

AUSTIN (KXAN) — In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, 10 Austin-area bakeries are helping promote honest conversations surrounding mental health this May — one cupcake at a time. The National Alliance on Mental Illness Central Texas, or NAMI Central Texas, launched its Depressed Cake Shop [...]

Jennifer Johnson considers herself an upbeat person. It helps generate the positive attitude she takes into each day as her small business makes strides toward returning to pre-coronavirus sales levels. Johnson is the owner and baker at Johnson’s Bakery, at 715 Old Austin Highway in Bastrop. The [...]

AUSTIN (KXAN) — May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a perfect time to talk about just how important mental health is to our overall health. One in five Americans has a mental illness, such as depression or anxiety. It’s common that most people live with one or know someone who does. Karen [...]

by Karen Ranus, Executive Director, NAMI Central Texas While we realize the dreams of women pioneers daily, we pay special attention to the struggles, victories and legacies of the women who have come before us during Women’s History Month in March. NAMI’s history cannot be told without [...]

Crisis after crisis in 2020 and 2021 has eaten away at our community’s resilience. Deputy Director Dr. Quevarra Moten joined Judy Maggio (Austin PBS) and panelists Wendy Salazar (Integral Care) and Dr. Art Markman (Two Guys on Your Head) to talk about the effects of the last year on our [...]

Valerie Milburn and Helen Sneed came to NAMI for the same reason—a way to voice their difficult stories. Both Valerie and Helen live with — and nearly lost everything to — serious mental health challenges. By the time each found NAMI, they were well along their recovery journey and were ready to [...]

by Mackenzie Ulam, volunteer and president of NAMI On Campus NAMI On Campus saved me my freshman year. Upon arriving at the University of Texas at Austin, I began having panic attacks for the first time and was soon diagnosed with 3 different anxiety disorders. I had known there was something up [...]

AUSTIN (KXAN) — For many Central Texans, the power is back on and water is flowing in their homes. For some, however, the emotional distress from February’s winter storm lingers. “I looked down at this chair that I keep by my door and it was white from the light of the moon, and my body froze,” [...]