NAMI Roc

We returned from the NAMI NYS Education Conference in Albany this week feeling incredibly grateful and inspired!

Huge congratulations to two remarkable leaders in our community:

✨ Dr. Ryan Thibodeau, NAMI Rochester Board Member and Professor of Psychology at St. John Fisher University, was named NAMI NYS 2025 Educator of the Year. His commitment to mental health education and his work honoring the lives of those buried at Mt. Hope Cemetery reflects the compassion and historical awareness he brings to our community.

✨ Pat Sine, former NAMI Rochester Executive Director, received the Muriel Shepherd Award—the highest honor NAMI NYS bestows. Pat’s advocacy, leadership, and dedication have shaped mental health support across our region.

💙 And we’re thrilled to share that NAMI Rochester was recognized as the 2025 Affiliate of the Year! This award celebrates the work our staff, volunteers, and community partners do every day to advance mental health education, support, and advocacy.

So much to celebrate—and so much gratitude for everyone who is part of the NAMI Rochester family. 💙

A message from NAMI Rochester's CEO and Executive Director:

This year, more people than ever are turning to NAMI Rochester for help. We’re seeing more walk-ins, more calls, and more families in crisis—people who come to us because we’re accessible, no-cost, and led by those who truly understand.

Your ROC the Day donation directly supports facilitator training, class materials, volunteer coordination, and the compassionate response every caller deserves.

🗓 Giving Tuesday — December 2, 2025
Join us in making sure no one has to face mental health challenges alone.

➡️Visit roctheday.org on December 2nd and select NAMI Rochester.

Together, we can make a difference. 💚

— Donna Leigh-Estes, CEO & Executive Director

Today, on Veterans Day, we pause to honor the courage, sacrifice, and dedication of all who have served in the United States Armed Forces. We are deeply grateful for the veterans in our community—and for the families who have stood beside them.

At NAMI Rochester, we recognize that the transition from military to civilian life can bring unique challenges. Mental health support is vital for those who have served, and we remain committed to ensuring that every veteran has access to compassionate care, understanding, and resources that promote healing and hope.

To all veterans: thank you for your service, your strength, and your continued contributions to our community. You inspire us to keep working toward a world where mental health is a shared priority for everyone.

NAMI currently offers a free online resource called NAMI Homefront for military members, veterans, and their family members. We at NAMI Rochester are actively recruiting facilitators who are interested in being trained for a 6-session in-person NAMI Homefront Program. If you are interested in learning more, please email [email protected].

Check out NAMI Homefront Resources here https://www.nami.org/support-education/mental-health-education/nami-homefront/

Unfortunately, November's OARS Meeting will be canceled.

We will see you on December 2nd for a presentation about how we can be balanced and centered in our relations. Attendees will participate in an interactive workshop where we learn about recognizing Emotion Mind, Reasonable Mind, and Wise Mind, and using this awareness to better enjoy our interactions with our loved ones.

Space is limited! Register by emailing [email protected]