Health Watch: Anchorage nonprofit led by mental health advocate offers lifeline to Alaskans

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and NAMI Anchorage is using the time to remind the community that help is available, and hope is possible.

The local nonprofit is a small but vital resource for Alaskans navigating mental health challenges.

“We are the oldest grassroots peer support organization in the United States,” said Annie Ferry, executive director of NAMI Anchorage.

Ferry stepped into the role just nine months ago, but her connection to NAMI runs much deeper. She brings lived experience to her leadership, something that shapes her mission every day.

“I am autistic. I have ADHD,” she shared. “I understand the struggle. I understand the suicidal ideation. I understand the isolation. I understand the depression that comes with all of these.”

NAMI Anchorage offers weekly peer-led support groups on Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Central Lutheran Church. They also offer education programs for families and safe spaces for people to talk openly about their experiences.

For Ferry, it’s not just about offering services, it’s about building a stigma-free community.

“One of the most powerful messages that can possibly get out there is that there is no stigma. There is no shame,” she said.

Even through leadership transitions and the pandemic, NAMI Anchorage has maintained its weekly Saturday peer support groups and continues to educate and empower families.

“We’ve seen people move into the social work landscape, the therapeutic landscape because they’ve seen the power of the peer support and these programs,” Ferry said.

Right now, the organization is in need of volunteers to help meet the growing demand, but Ferry emphasizes that NAMI Anchorage is still here for anyone who needs help.

“Keep calling us. We do have the resources. We’re here to support you. We’re here to listen to you.”

For Ferry, the work is deeply personal and for those who make the call, it could be life-changing.

NAMI Alaska covers the entire state, but they also have affiliates in Juneau, Fairbanks, and on the North Slope.

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