Supporting Community Mental Health
NAMI National Alliance on Mental Illness – Washtenaw County
Taking Care is a printed booklet designed to make mental health information approachable and accessible for everyone in the Washtenaw County community. Developed for NAMI Washtenaw County, the guide covers sensitive and essential topics—such as starting therapy, what to do in a crisis, navigating hospitalization, and when to call emergency services. It also introduces the county’s 24-hour mental health hotline, Access, as a key community resource.
From the start, our design team approached this project with thoughtfulness. We understood that the booklet might reach people in moments of stress, fear, or uncertainty, so the design needed to feel warm, calm, and grounded. We prioritized a spacious layout, clear hierarchy, and soothing color palette to make the content feel safe and easy to navigate—never overwhelming or clinical. Every design choice aimed to reduce stigma and reinforce the message that seeking help is a normal and healthy act of care.
More than 20,000 copies of Taking Care have been printed and distributed throughout the community in laundromats, markets, pharmacies, libraries, and other community spaces.
