Northeast Florida Mental Health Advocacy Group

Established by NAMI Jacksonville, our group consists of practitioners, community partners, people living with mental health conditions, and their families and friends, who work together to help shape and improve mental health legislation.

The Northeast Florida Mental Health Advocacy Group (NEFLMHAG) works to advocate for improvements in mental health policies and legislation in Northeast Florida, and at state and national levels.

NEFLMHAG Meetings

We meet on the first Wednesday of each month from 6:30 – 7:30 pm on Zoom.  
Meetings can include:  

• Reviewing mental health legislation efforts at local, state and federal levels, and discussing how to best advocate for those efforts. 
• Listening to guest speakers on topics related to legislative priorities.
• Planning advocacy and outreach efforts in Northeast Florida.
• Receiving training on the legislative process and advocacy.  

To attend a NEFLMHAG meeting, you need to register to get the Zoom link.

NEFLMHAG Legislative Priorities

Our legislative priorities for 2023-2024 are:

Attend a NFMHAG Meeting

First Wednesday of each month on Zoom
6:30 - 7:30 pm

Meetings are open to anyone who wants to be involved in shaping mental health policy in Northeast Florida. Register to get the Zoom link.

Register Now

• 988 Crisis Response System
• Supportive Housing
• Reforms to the Baker and Marchman Acts
• Parity in Insurance Coverage

Advocacy Training

We also provide advocacy training with NAMI SMARTS for Advocacy workshops. We help you develop grassroots advocacy skills and how to turn lived experience into tools you can use to engage in issue advocacy.

The training includes:

• Telling a compelling story that is inspiring and making an “ask” in 90 seconds.
• Writing an effective email.
• Making an elevator speech and making an impactful phone call.
• Orchestrating a successful meeting with an elected official.

Whether you’re new to advocacy or have years of experience, you will leave the workshop with messages, step-by-step tools and the practice you need to feel ready to make a difference.  
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NEFLMHAG is a member of the Florida Mental Health Advocacy Coalition (FLMHAC), and the groups share information and resources, and work together on advocacy at the state level.  

Advocacy at the State Level: Florida Mental Health Advocacy Coalition

The Florida Mental Health Advocacy Coalition (FLMHAC) is a statewide group of NAMI affiliates and other mental health advocacy partners.

The group’s main purpose is advocating for policy changes and better laws that can help improve the quality of the lives of Floridians affected by mental illness and/or substance use disorders.  

Members of this non-profit, non-partisan coalition work together to:

• Identify the most urgent mental health needs in Florida and develop proficiency around the issues associated with those needs.  
• Team up with lobbyists to influence public policy and legislative priorities in Florida.
• Stay up to date on state legislative efforts, study bills and issues, and recommend best practices to ensure the best outcome of legislative efforts.

Visit flmhac.org to learn more, become a member, and sign up to receive news and Action Alerts.

Advocacy at the National Level: NAMI National Office

NAMI’s national office advocates on federal issues with Congress and the Executive Branch.

NAMI takes a non-partisan approach to advocate on a wide range of policy issues, including expanding access to health care coverage, advancing research, diverting people from justice system involvement, promoting early intervention and more.

NAMI advocates have helped pass federal parity laws and mental health reform, expanded coverage through the Affordable Care Act, and successfully fought back attempts to end patient protections.

Learn more about NAMI national advocacy efforts.