Ending The Silence
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Helping middle and high schoolers understand mental illness makes a big difference. We can teach them about the warning signs for themselves and their friends. NAMI Ending the Silence helps raise awareness and change perceptions around mental health conditions.
Through this free classroom presentation, students get to see the reality of living with a mental health condition. 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. Why Ending the Silence Matters
Moving stories from positive role models have the power to change kids' views. The discussion gives students the rare opportunity to ask questions about mental health challenges to people who have lived it. The presentation’s message of empathy and hope encourages students to actively care for themselves and their friends. It also teaches them it's okay to talk about what they're feeling. NAMI Ending the Silence covers:
“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 Schedule an Ending the Silence Presentation If you would like to host a NAMI Ending the Silence presentation at your school, contact Lisa Zanin - ETS Coordinator at lzanin1953@gmail.com. |
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June 26, 2017
Tipper Gore Funds National Expansion of
National Alliance on Mental Illness’ Flagship Teen Program
Ending the Silence program helps end stigma on mental health issues
Arlington, Virginia—June 26, 2017—Today, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) announced the nationwide expansion of their flagship teen program, Ending the Silence, due to a generous gift from Former Second Lady of the United States, Tipper Gore. The announcement comes as more than 1,600 mental health advocates from across the country head to Washington, DC this week for NAMI’s National Convention, which will be held June 28th – July 1st.
The $1 million gift will enable NAMI affiliates throughout the country to adopt the early intervention program so that more middle school and high school students will have access to the program, that is designed to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and help young people get the treatment they need.
One-half of all chronic mental illness begins by the age of 14, and according to a recent study, 13.6 percent of boys and 36.1 percent of girls experience depression by age 17. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for ages 10 to 14 and the second for ages 15 to 24.
“Mrs. Gore is a woman of extraordinary insight, courage and compassion whose advocacy has been devoted especially to children and families. She has given hope to millions of Americans and with her support, NAMI will continue these efforts with a new generation of middle and high school students,” said NAMI CEO Mary Giliberti.
“I’ve worked for decades to help Americans with mental illness, and I am thrilled to be working with NAMI to end the silence and help our children understand they are not alone, and to learn how to ask for the help they need,” said Mrs. Tipper Gore. “Mental illness is a public health crisis in the United States. Too many people—especially young adults—live undiagnosed, untreated, and unable to reach their full potential. Armed with knowledge and understanding, and having open and honest communications can help everyone know there is no shame in needing help. It is empowering to ask for help.”
NAMI Ending the Silence is a 50-minute early intervention program that engages youth in a discussion about mental health. Teens learn to recognize early warning signs of mental health conditions and what to do if they or someone they know is showing these signs. They can ask questions of family members and individuals experiencing mental health conditions. The chance to hear directly from a young adult with a mental health condition dispels myths and stereotypes, instills a message of hope and recovery and encourages teens to reduce stigma. By engaging teens in discussions about mental health conditions with their peers, youth who may be experiencing mental health issues can realize they’re not alone.
Tipper Gore has dedicated her life to giving voice to parents, children and families. She served as Mental Health Policy Advisor to President Clinton, and convened the first-ever White House Conference on Mental Health in 1999. She was instrumental in passing the Mental Health Parity Act in 1996, which helped end the disparity in treating people with physical injuries and mental illnesses. In 1990, she founded Tennessee Voices for Children, a coalition to promote services for children and youth with behavioral, emotional, substance abuse, or other mental health challenges.
Tipper Gore Funds National Expansion of
National Alliance on Mental Illness’ Flagship Teen Program
Ending the Silence program helps end stigma on mental health issues
Arlington, Virginia—June 26, 2017—Today, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) announced the nationwide expansion of their flagship teen program, Ending the Silence, due to a generous gift from Former Second Lady of the United States, Tipper Gore. The announcement comes as more than 1,600 mental health advocates from across the country head to Washington, DC this week for NAMI’s National Convention, which will be held June 28th – July 1st.
The $1 million gift will enable NAMI affiliates throughout the country to adopt the early intervention program so that more middle school and high school students will have access to the program, that is designed to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and help young people get the treatment they need.
One-half of all chronic mental illness begins by the age of 14, and according to a recent study, 13.6 percent of boys and 36.1 percent of girls experience depression by age 17. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for ages 10 to 14 and the second for ages 15 to 24.
“Mrs. Gore is a woman of extraordinary insight, courage and compassion whose advocacy has been devoted especially to children and families. She has given hope to millions of Americans and with her support, NAMI will continue these efforts with a new generation of middle and high school students,” said NAMI CEO Mary Giliberti.
“I’ve worked for decades to help Americans with mental illness, and I am thrilled to be working with NAMI to end the silence and help our children understand they are not alone, and to learn how to ask for the help they need,” said Mrs. Tipper Gore. “Mental illness is a public health crisis in the United States. Too many people—especially young adults—live undiagnosed, untreated, and unable to reach their full potential. Armed with knowledge and understanding, and having open and honest communications can help everyone know there is no shame in needing help. It is empowering to ask for help.”
NAMI Ending the Silence is a 50-minute early intervention program that engages youth in a discussion about mental health. Teens learn to recognize early warning signs of mental health conditions and what to do if they or someone they know is showing these signs. They can ask questions of family members and individuals experiencing mental health conditions. The chance to hear directly from a young adult with a mental health condition dispels myths and stereotypes, instills a message of hope and recovery and encourages teens to reduce stigma. By engaging teens in discussions about mental health conditions with their peers, youth who may be experiencing mental health issues can realize they’re not alone.
Tipper Gore has dedicated her life to giving voice to parents, children and families. She served as Mental Health Policy Advisor to President Clinton, and convened the first-ever White House Conference on Mental Health in 1999. She was instrumental in passing the Mental Health Parity Act in 1996, which helped end the disparity in treating people with physical injuries and mental illnesses. In 1990, she founded Tennessee Voices for Children, a coalition to promote services for children and youth with behavioral, emotional, substance abuse, or other mental health challenges.
Spring 2016 Update
Last fall a NAMI signature program called Ending the Silence was rolled out in local area high schools. NAMI Ending the Silence is a 50 minute program designed to give students an opportunity to learn about mental illness through a power point, short videos and personal testimony. Through the presentation students learn symptoms and indicators of mental illness and are given ideas of how to help themselves, friends or a family member who may need support. This program is delivered by a trained two person team including a young adult who is relatable to students and shares their own journey with a diagnosed mental illness. A primary goal of this program is to create a generation of students that are well positioned to eradicate stigma associated with mental health challenges through education and advocacy.
An enormous thank you to a group of very special people who are willing to be the presenters for this NAMI program: Walter Stern, Dan Guenther, Mark Zanin, Sara Lehrke, Sara Hamby, Janet Deleo, Adalia Shchurowsky. At this writing we have presented at Tremper, Indian Trail Academy, Bradford and Harborside which gives us a total of 780 folks who have heard this presentation. The feedback from staff and students has been positive with many asking pertinent questions about mental illness. We will go back to Tremper, Indian Trail and Bradford this spring and we hope to also present in the Kenosha County high schools.
Last fall a NAMI signature program called Ending the Silence was rolled out in local area high schools. NAMI Ending the Silence is a 50 minute program designed to give students an opportunity to learn about mental illness through a power point, short videos and personal testimony. Through the presentation students learn symptoms and indicators of mental illness and are given ideas of how to help themselves, friends or a family member who may need support. This program is delivered by a trained two person team including a young adult who is relatable to students and shares their own journey with a diagnosed mental illness. A primary goal of this program is to create a generation of students that are well positioned to eradicate stigma associated with mental health challenges through education and advocacy.
An enormous thank you to a group of very special people who are willing to be the presenters for this NAMI program: Walter Stern, Dan Guenther, Mark Zanin, Sara Lehrke, Sara Hamby, Janet Deleo, Adalia Shchurowsky. At this writing we have presented at Tremper, Indian Trail Academy, Bradford and Harborside which gives us a total of 780 folks who have heard this presentation. The feedback from staff and students has been positive with many asking pertinent questions about mental illness. We will go back to Tremper, Indian Trail and Bradford this spring and we hope to also present in the Kenosha County high schools.