Programs

NAMI Ending the Silence presentations include a lead presenter who shares an informative presentation and a young adult with a mental health condition who shares their journey of recovery. Audience members can ask questions and gain understanding of an often-misunderstood topic. Through dialogue, we can help grow the movement to end stigma. Become an Ending the Silence Presenter!

Free of cost to schools and communities

NAMI Ending the Silence for Students: 50-minute presentation designed for middle and high school students that includes warning signs, facts and statistics and how to get help for themselves or a friend. Research has shown that NAMI Ending the Silence for Students is effective in changing middle and high school students’ knowledge and attitudes toward mental health conditions and toward seeking help.

Interested in a presentation for a different audience? Let us know! Our presenters are very flexible and our material can be adapted to suit a variety of audiences. If we don’t feel Ending the Silence is the right fit for your needs, we can direct you to another program that may better address the demographics of your group.

Why Ending the Silence Matters

What People Are Saying:

“I’m really grateful and glad that you talked to us. I often feel very alone or weird because many kids my age don’t understand. But, now I’m sure they would be more supportive of me.” -Student

“It is amazing what just one day, one talk can do. You never really know what’s going on in the brain of any particular student.” –Teacher

To request an Ending the Silence presentation or one of our other programs, please fill out this form.

Our trained presenters humanize the misunderstood, highly stigmatized topic of mental illness by showing that it’s possible—and common—to live well with a mental health condition. This presentation also provides:

• A chance to ask presenters questions, allowing for a deeper understanding of mental health conditions and dispelling of stereotypes and misconceptions.
• The understanding that every person with a mental health condition can hope for a brighter future.
• Information on how to learn more about mental health and get involved with the mental health community.

“It is so inspiring to experience the level of engagement, inquisitiveness and genuine desire to learn about mental illness found in IOOV audiences. The questions and comments I get during presentations tells me my story is having a positive impact. IOOV changes the way people think about mental illness. The program has been essential to my recovery. I feel so fortunate to be able to share my story that is filled with deep shame, guilt and unworthiness to bring understanding and compassion to the lives of others who are affected by mental illness. Indeed, being an IOOV presenter has given me a sense of purpose, self-empathy and encouragement to continue my path of recovery. I take great pride in presenting my unique face of recovery to as many audiences as I can!”- NAMI Seattle Board Member and IOOV Presenter

To request an In Our Own Voice presentation or one of our other programs, please fill out this form.

NAMI Family-to-Family (also available in Spanish as De Familia a Familia) is taught by NAMI-trained family members who have been there, and includes presentations, discussion and interactive exercises.

What You’ll Gain

NAMI Family-to-Family not only provides critical information and strategies for taking care of the person you love, but you’ll also find out that you’re not alone. Recovery is a journey, and there is hope.

The group setting of NAMI Family-to-Family provides mutual support and shared positive impact—you can experience compassion and reinforcement from people who understand your situation. You can also help others through your own experience. In the program, you’ll learn about:

• How to manage crises, solve problems and communicate effectively
• Taking care of yourself and managing your stress
• Developing the confidence and stamina to provide support with compassion
• Finding and using local supports and services
• Up-to-date information on mental health conditions and how they affect the brain
• Current treatments, including evidence-based therapies, medications and side effects
• The impact of mental illness on the entire family

What People Are Saying

“Before I took the course, I felt alone and overwhelmed dealing with my daughter’s mental illness. By taking this course, I have met others who are going through the same things I am and have learned about many resources that I never knew existed.” – Family-to-Family graduate

“I thought my wife and I knew just about everything there is to know about the system and the illness. Boy, were we wrong. Without a doubt, this is the best support course I have had the privilege of taking part in, bar none.”

Get your name added to the Family-to-Family waitlist and be notified as soon as we schedule our next class series – just email info@namiseattle.org or call us at (206) 789-7722.

Registration now open for our next Peer-to-Peer series starting October 3, 2019 in Capitol Hill! Click here to pre-register.

Taught by a trained team of people who’ve been there, the program includes presentations, discussion and interactive exercises. Everything is confidential, and NAMI never recommends a specific medical therapy or treatment approach.

What You’ll Gain

This in-person group experience provides the opportunity for mutual support and positive impact. You can experience compassion and reinforcement from people who relate to your experiences. Through your participation, you have the opportunity to help others grow. This is a confidential place to learn from shared experiences in an environment of sincere, uncritical acceptance. Recovery is a journey, and there is hope for all people living with mental illness.

NAMI Peer-to-Peer helps you:

• Create a personalized relapse prevention plan
• Learn how to interact with health care providers
• Develop confidence for making decisions and reducing stress
• Stay up-to-date on mental health research
• Understand the impact of symptoms on your life
• Access practical resources on how to maintain your journey toward recovery

What People are Saying

“NAMI Peer-to-Peer has allowed me to take the focus off my illness and learn to balance it with the rest of my life. By engaging in recovery I am able to be more relaxed and productive both at work and home.”

“It made me feel I was not alone in coping with mental illness. It gave me hope that I could recover and that my life would not always be filled with chaos, and it gave me positive role models to inspire me to strive for recuperation and success in life.”

Seminar leaders have personal experience with mental health conditions in their families. This seminar is in the pilot phase and only available in Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

Check our calendar for information about upcoming seminars. If you are waiting to take the Family-to-Family course, this seminar is a great intermediary in the meantime.

NAMI Smarts for Advocacy workshops help develop the following skills:

• Telling a compelling story that is inspiring and makes an “ask” in 90 seconds
• Writing an effective email, making an elevator speech and making an impactful phone call
• Orchestrating a successful meeting with an elected official

The unique step-by-step, skill-building design of NAMI Smarts is effective with a wide range of participants, including those who are new to advocacy as well as individuals with years of experience.

Participants routinely share that they’ve never been able to condense their story or made a clear “ask,” but with NAMI Smarts, they are now able to.

Lobbyists who represent NAMI State Organizations or mental health coalitions also love this program—they see participants come out confident and able to share their story in a way that moves policymakers.

Check our calendar for information about upcoming workshops.