In Our Own Voice 2006
In Our Own Voice speakers spoke to 70 groups in 2006, a record, and approximately 2,000 people. The largest venue was 450 students at a Derryfield School Assembly, and the most surprising turnout was more than 200 students at UNH Durham during Mental Illness Awareness Week.
We speak regularly to mental health professionals and others who must deal with people with mental illness in their work. We speak to every NAMI NH family group that meets regularly, whether it's for education or support.
Thousands of individual evaluations tell us that the presentations change pre-conceived ideas of what people with mental illness are like, their potential to get well, to achieve their goals, and live happy productive lives. These are not depressing stories. People are inspired when they meet people who have overcome great obstacles against great odds. People leave an IOOV presentation with hope for themselves, their loved ones and their clients. It's also the best stigma-buster in NAMI's arsenal.
Our priority for 2007 is to reach more churches, civic groups, businesses and professional associations, policy-makers, and other people who deal with people with mental illness in their work.
We need your help. What group(s) do you belong to that could benefit from an In Our Own Voice presentation. Every group has at least one person who knows someone with a family member. A filedrawer full of individual evaluations tells us we have a good product and a valuable community service. See if you can help us reach one group we might not be able to reach on our own.
You, or an interested group leader, can get more information on the program and the speakers by calling Ken Braiterman, In Our Own Voice coordinator at 225-5359 or e-mailing KBraiterman@naminh.org
