“You are not a diagnosis.” Ellen Ritz, RN

There are some people whose presence alone makes you feel calmer, more hopeful, and quietly understood. Ellen Ritz is one of those people.

Born in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island from a very young age, Ellen now calls East Williston home. She has been happily married for 39 years to a man who is her rock, is the proud mother of one daughter, and a devoted grandmother to one grandchild. Family has always been central to her life—and it’s easy to see why.

Ellen credits her parents with teaching her the importance of a strong work ethic, empathy, and helping others. She describes them as smart, funny, and kind, and says she feels fortunate to have been raised with those values. In turn, Ellen has shaped her own life around compassion, choosing a path rooted in understanding, service, and caring deeply for people.

A graduate of Columbia University’s nursing program, Ellen’s career reads like a masterclass in compassionate medicine. She has worked in the emergency room trauma unit at Bellevue Hospital, served as Head of Intensive Care at Doctors Hospital, worked in medical specialty clinics at Mount Sinai, helped establish one of the first trauma buses, and taught countless individuals how to manage diabetes. Across every role, one philosophy guided her work:

“I believe in making things understandable for people so they can make good decisions.”

That belief eventually led her to NAMI Central Suffolk Long Island—and, as Ellen says, “NAMI became my vehicle and completely changed my life.”

NAMI Central Suffolk Long Island is the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. Its mission is to educate, support, and advocate for individuals and families affected by mental health conditions, while also working to improve mental health laws, access to services, and public understanding. Many of NAMI’s support groups and educational programs are offered at no cost, because access to help should never feel out of reach.

What drew Ellen there? A simple invitation from a friend to attend a meeting. What followed was a calling.

Today, Ellen selflessly gives more than double a full-time work week volunteering for NAMI. She takes crisis calls, leads specialty support groups, guest speaks, educates families, and supports individuals who are often at their most vulnerable moments.

“Individuals and families who reach out to NAMI have lived through an experience,” she explains. “I help create a different view for them—from the inside.”

Her message is unwavering: you are not a diagnosis. Ellen encourages people to recognize symptoms, understand what causes them, and seek the right treatment—without shame or judgment.

She is known for three guiding principles she lives by and teaches others:

• Zip it — if it’s not positive, don’t say it
• Perseverance — keep showing up, even when it’s hard
• Patience — notice the small things and be positive about them

“If we could get rid of criticism and judgment,” she says, “the world would be a better place.”

Beyond direct support, Ellen is also a tireless advocate. She speaks with legislators about mental health parity, challenging insurance companies that continue to undervalue mental health care. She also works closely with police precincts, helping officers recognize when a situation is rooted in mental illness—because people need treatment, not punishment.

At a time of year when not everyone is joyfully celebrating, Ellen offers gentle wisdom. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for your grief. Talk about those you miss. It keeps them alive. Create memory boards. Attend gatherings on your terms. Arrive late. Leave early. Protect your comfort zone.

So how does she balance it all? Boundless energy, a deeply supportive husband, and the occasional pause—a walk, a television show, or a bit of shopping—to reset.

Ellen’s door is always open. Texts. Calls. Zooms. Emails. In person. No judgment. No rush. Just hope.

“I see hope for everyone.”

And on Long Island, because of Ellen Ritz, that hope is real—one life, one family, one conversation at a time.

Learn more at www.namicsliny.org

To reach Ellen directly, email info@namicsliny.org and write IMPORTANT in the subject line. She will get back to you.