Meet Carl and buy a NAMI shirt!

Have you met Carl? If you've come to our NAMI Washington County building, he's likely greeted you at the front desk.

Carl is one of our volunteer Peer Support Specialists. He facilitates support groups, and is also the Vice President of our board.

He wants to share his story, because coming to NAMI has helped him feel less alone, and he wants to do the same for others.

“There is hope at the end of the tunnel. You can find the right dose of medicine and live as close to a normal life as you can. You’re not alone here.”

Plus, this month, Carl is celebrating a whole year of being depression-free! He lives with Bipolar 1, but it is currently in remission. How amazing is that?!

For Carl, giving back and supporting others helps him in his recovery, and in his words, "helps combat the depression."

“If I can just answer a phone call, and help someone get to a NAMI class, or give them a referral, or give them a phone number, help them out in any way, it just makes me feel good inside. And that helps combat the depression.”

One of the ways Carl expresses himself is through art, designing T-shirts for NAMI. He just launched a NAMI shirt store, where you can shop for yourself, or for a friend or loved one, and show your support for NAMI and everyone whose life is affected by mental health challenges (click this link to go to the store!). You can place orders from the store through November 15th - just in time for holiday gifts!

We’re really excited about this new shirt store, and of course, so is Carl! So watch the video below to hear his story!

And then call us or come visit us, and maybe you'll get to chat with him!

PS Carl is also a huge Taylor Swift fan! See if you can hear which of her songs is playing in the background of this video…!