How Do You Bring Mental Health Awareness to Your School?
In preparation for our upcoming discussion with the Student Support Community (this Thursday, August 17th, 3:00-4:00 ET!) we're talking about back to school resources!
What are some ways you can help spread awareness about mental health in your school?
- NAMI Ending the Silence is free presentation for middle and high school students. During the 50-minute presentation, a young adult living with mental illness and a family member tell their stories about mental health challenges, including what hurt and what helped.
- NAMI On Campus clubs work to end the stigma that makes it hard for students to talk about mental health and get the help they need. Clubs hold creative meetings, hold innovative awareness events, and offer signature NAMI programs through partnerships with NAMI State Organizations and Affiliates across the nation.
What ideas do you have to help start the conversation and spread resources about mental health this school year? Or maybe you've already started the conversation by being there for a friend when they needed you or connected someone with a mental health resource when they were in crisis.
Let us know below!
My university has a Support Network that is a student run organization where students can sign up and are assigned to a group that meets once a week. Trained student leaders facilitate the conversation. It serves as a place for students to vent about whatever they are dealing with, whether it is a mental health condition or somethinge else. Everything that is said is confidential, and it serves as a great opportunity to meet and become close with students who you wouldn't normally get a chance to interact with. The support network has definitely created a more open dialogue about mental health on campus and serves to show that everyone has their struggles and that they don't necessarily need to be hidden.