If you’ve ever attended a NAMI event or support group, you know this community is full of people who care deeply about mental health. People who’ve walked beside loved ones, fought through crises and worked hard to improve the outlook for their family and friends.
But when it comes to advocacy — speaking up to shape mental health policy — many of us pause. We worry we don’t know enough about the issues, or we’re unsure of where to begin. So we spoke with NAMI Colorado executive director Ray Merenstein — our 2025 Advocate of the Year — about what works in advocacy, and how we can approach sparking change in 2026.
Top issues for 2026
Before we look ahead, Merenstein notes, we should celebrate the progress we’ve made. “We have an active, intelligent and passionate group of individuals,” Merenstein says, “who helped pass legislation relating to parity, peer support, prison reform and crisis response.” Recent efforts, Merenstein adds, also have contributed to the first decrease in young adult suicide in 17 years.
But many Coloradans are still being left behind: older adults, veterans, marginalized communities and anyone facing barriers to housing and treatment. As of early December, Merenstein’s list of focal points for advocacy efforts started with the U.S. Congress’ decision on enhanced health insurance tax credits. If they’re not extended, many people in the Pikes Peak region could see premiums rise, and families who rely on therapy or medication management could struggle to keep up.
“Mental health care should never be out of reach because of cost,” Merenstein says.
At the state level, Colorado needs to fix long-standing flaws in how people with serious mental illness interact with the justice system — with individuals cycling through jail, homelessness and crisis. He notes that a committee on Treatment of Persons with Behavioral Health Disorders in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems has been meeting to discuss three potential bills to this effect, with the bills visible at bit.ly/COMHbills26.
There’s also much work to be done to continue development and expansion of a comprehensive mental health crisis system — combining 24/7 crisis lines, mobile crisis, outreach services, and emergency and crisis stabilization services — and to ensure access to effective medication and treatment options.
Advocating is storytelling
It’s notable that when Merenstein talks about advocacy, he doesn’t talk about policy briefs. He talks about stories. “A personal story is the perfect way to show policymakers how their decisions impact people in the community,” he says. “Sometimes one call or email can make a difference.”
If you’re someone who has supported a loved one, struggled to access treatment or found healing through community, you already have what you need to be an advocate. You don’t need to memorize laws, you just need to share your lived experience.
NAMI created NAMI Smarts for Advocacy for this very purpose. It’s a workshop that helps people learn how to write effective messages, speak to legislators and frame their stories in ways that move hearts and minds. Anyone can participate, whether you’ve been volunteering with NAMI for years or have never spoken to an elected official. To register, contact advocate@namicolorado.org with the subject line “NAMI Smarts for Advocacy.”
In the meantime, Merenstein encourages people to join the NAMI Colorado Action Network, which sends short, timely alerts when there’s a chance to influence a vote or share feedback on an emerging issue. There’s also a public policy committee you can join by contacting advocate@namicolorado.org with the subject line “NAMI CO PPC.” And NAMI National maintains a hub for getting started as an advocate at nami.org/advocacy/advocate-for-change/.
It only takes a moment
One of the biggest barriers to advocacy is the belief that it’ll take too much time. Merenstein argues that advocacy isn’t about following every bill or attending every hearing. It’s about showing up at the right moment.
“School boards, county commissioners, state and federal legislators work for us,” he says. “If they don’t hear from those who vote and pay taxes, then we are complicit in silence.”
A single email or phone call sharing your story of navigating the mental health system can leave a lasting impression.
Those emails and phone calls can go directly to your representative, or you can start by reaching out to NAMI Colorado or NAMI Colorado Springs. Though we operate as separate 501c3 nonprofits, we communicate often, with NAMI Colorado Springs often serving as the state organization’s eyes and ears in the Pikes Peak region. That’s why, to start 2026 strong, Merenstein has one clear message for our community: “We need stories. We need to hear from folks.”
Tell your story...
… or speak up for a friend, family member or neighbor!
Contact the NAMI Colorado Springs team at info@namicoloradosprings.org or 719.473.8477. You can also support local efforts to advocate by donating to support our advocacy efforts.