NAMI Rappahannock: Forty Years of Empowering Youth and Adult Mental Health Through Creativity and Community
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Rappahannock region chapter, which has served Fredericksburg and its neighboring counties of Stafford, Caroline, King George, and Spotsylvania for over forty years, is making positive strides in youth mental health outreach by creating safe spaces and innovative platforms for individuals to thrive. As the mental health of youth has become an increasingly important topic, amid rising rates of depression and anxiety experienced by youth across the United States, this organization stands out for its commitment to giving youth a voice, numerous resources, and opportunities to heal and grow.
Beginning in 1984, a notice was published in the Fredericksburg Free Lance Star newspaper announcing a support group meeting that was to be held in a basement room of a former Mary Washington Hospital site in Fall Hill. Back then, the organization was founded by Dagmar Reilly and Judith Greer, two individuals who believed that mental health support and advocacy were a crucial part of uplifting individuals in our community. With a vision focused on spreading awareness-- "To be a pillar of support in [the] community where an individual and/or their families, seeking mental health resources, can access them at no cost, discreetly and stigma-free"-- NAMI has helped to foster a community embarked on seeking change and healing for those struggling with mental health issues.
At the heart of NAMI Rappahannock's approach to outreach across our community is a call for creativity. In the spring of 2025, the organization held its annual Youth and Young Adult Art Contest and encouraged young creators to use media — like paint, graphite, digital media, or writing— to share their art publicly. Winners of this competition had their art featured on merchandise made available to all, and were encouraged to "Bloom into Wellness."
One prominent and recurring theme in NAMI Rappahannock's outreach is the phrase "Come, tell your story!" With a mission statement that verifies the organization's drive to provide mental health resources to Rappahannock-located individuals through "education, support, connection, and advocacy," NAMI has continued to showcase its efforts towards creating lasting change. Currently, NAMI offers both family and recovery support groups for individuals seeking to connect with others and provide support. The organization also offers various free peer-led support groups led by trained individuals to help those dealing with mental health or substance abuse recovery.
Beginning in April 2025, NAMI also adopted the Peer-to-Peer Education Program, which is an eight-session-long recovery course for adults with mental health conditions. "NAMI Peer-to-Peer is uplifting, life-saving, and an eye-opening experience that changed how I see myself," says one attendee of the peer group sessions, "The biggest thing I gained from this class was to become my own advocate and best friend."
NAMI's efforts demonstrate how community engagement and creativity can transform lives. From its ongoing art contests to storytelling circles, the organization's educational outreach to ensure that mental health remains in the public eye, and encouragement towards young people to seek help, express themselves, and find hope together continues to strengthen our community for the better, reassuring all that it is okay to seek help and providing a community filled with encouragement.
