NAMI In Our Own Voice (IOOV) is a unique public education program in which two individuals talk openly about living with a mental health condition. These types of presentations that include personal accounts of mental illness such as IOOV are imperative to changing attitudes, assumptions, and stereotypes about individuals who have a mental health diagnosis. As an IOOV presenter, you will have opportunities to speak with middle and high school students, college students, peer groups, and various community organizations. IOOV presenters also receive a stipend for speaking engagements from their supporting NAMI affiliate.
Qualifications for Training: (1) Must be an individual who is living with a mental health diagnosis and identifies themselves in recovery. (2) Individuals must be comfortable talking in front of various audiences and willing to share aspects of their personal experience of living with mental illness. (3) Willingness to maintain fidelity of the NAMI In Our Own Voice model.
Training Format: The NAMI In Our Own Voice training is a two part training, online and in-person. The online component must be completed first. You will be required to have your own email in order to register for the online training. Online you will craft your story and receive information to better understand the structure of an IOOV presentation. NAMI Keystone PA will grant individual access to the training. Once the online training portion is completed, an in-person training will take place. This is an opportunity to practice your story with other presenters, better understand how the presentations are run, and learn how to best answer difficult audience questions.
Training Location and Date: The Pittsburgh Training will last one afternoon: October 10, 12:00pm to 4:00pm. The training will take place at the NAMI Keystone Pennsylvania Office, 105 Braunlich Drive, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15237-3351.
Training Application: For future training opportunities, please download and complete a NAMI In Our Own Voice application. Send completed application to scaban@namikeystonepa.org. You will be contacted via email in regards to the first half of training which is the online portion.