Executive Director Paul Johansen welcomes the gathering at Zucchini's.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — NAMI Berkshire County is celebrating 40 years of breaking down stigmas and supporting mental health.

The local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness held its annual meeting at Zucchini's Restaurant on Wednesday. Between fundraising and sponsorships, the organization brought in nearly $91,700 in the last year and invested about $28,000 into its programs.

The 40th anniversary also comes with change, as Paul Johansen was hired as the new executive director and the nonprofit moved to an office space at 141 North St., Suite 301 in downtown Pittsfield.

Johansen said he finds it important and rewarding work because mental illness cuts across all barriers, affecting all types of people regardless of factors such as race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic class.

"It's been very rewarding just reaching out and talking to other leaders and other nonprofits and other organizations about how we can collaborate," he said, explaining that if you look for common ground, you can always find it and figure out where interests overlap.

He has both a personal and professional interest in the field and has even worked with fellow Yale alumni to settle a case against the Ivy League for having detrimentally poor mental health support for students.

Incorporated in 1984, the non-profit's mission is to improve the quality of life for local residents with mental illness and their families through support, education, and advocacy.

In the last year, more than 200 people have been reached through support groups; over 150 have received education through youth mental health retreats, youth mental health first aid training, and a workshop for community health worker students at Berkshire Community College; more than 600 people through awareness efforts, and over 400 through advocacy.

In October 2023, NAMI executive directors across the country met in Washington, D.C., for Capitol Hill Day to meet with senators and representatives and asked for expanded mental health crisis response services.