Community Needs From: HoundsConnect

The Center for Service-Learning & Community Engagement, in partnership with the College of Applied Behavioral Sciences, invites you and your students to join NAMI Ending the Silence’s first in-person volunteer training since COVID, happening right here on campus (UINDY Hall A,B,C)on January 23rd, from 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM. NAMI Ending the Silence (ETS) is an evidence-based youth mental health education program designed for middle and high school students.  Volunteers either lead a brief mental health overview or share their mental health story, offering young people space to ask questions, feel seen, and build hope.  These programs typically occur in schools or other community settings.   In order to be an ETS presenter, individuals must complete the training.  After completing the training, participants can become volunteer presenters and are invited to present about once a month in Indianapolis, with very flexible scheduling.  The minimum commitment is about one hour per month, but it is scheduled around volunteer availability, so a great opportunity for folks with busy schedules who have a passion for mental health literacy.  

The training teaches volunteers how to share their lived experience OR provide mental health education.  It includes guided practice, tips for answering questions and navigating conversations with youth, discussions surrounding the impacts of youth mental health, and emphasizes the importance of self-care and boundaries.  Each presentation includes one speaker who provides key information about mental health, and another who shares their personal story -- volunteers can choose either to share their lived experience with mental health issues (either self or family/loved ones) or to share general information to promote mental health literacy -- volunteers will receive training/resources for the option they choose.   

If you are interested in training to be a volunteer and attending the training, please contact NAMI Indiana at mdehaai@namiindiana.org or fill out the very short application. If possible, please contact Miranda or fill out the application by January 15th.  After applying, Miranda will schedule a short informal call with you to answer any questions and make sure the role is a good fit, and then you can attend the January 23 training. For other questions please contact Marianna Foulkrod at mfoulkrod@uindy.edu.   NAMI Indiana will also host two optional Training Info Sessions for anyone who would like to learn more before committing to the day-long training. 

(If you have any interest at all, you are encouraged to fill out the application prior to these info sessions).  Thursday, January 15th 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, and Wednesday, January 21st 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM  The January 23 training includes:  

● Free lunch  ● NAMI swag, LP Credit Available  ● Service Learning credit opportunities and hours on transcript and HoundsConnect  ● Volunteer certification

Ending the Silence is an engaging presentation that helps audience members learn about the warning signs of mental health conditions and what steps to take if loved ones are showing symptoms of a mental health condition.

Ending the Silence presentations include two leaders: one 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 an understanding of an often-misunderstood topic. Through dialogue, we can help grow the movement to end stigma.