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In Our Own Voice (IOOV) is a unique public education program developed by NAMI, in which two trained consumer
speakers share compelling personal stories about living with mental illness and achieving recovery. The program
was started with a grant from Eli Lily and Company.
IOOV is an opportunity for those who have struggled with mental illness to gain confidence and to share their
individual experiences of recovery and transformation. Throughout the IOOV presentation, audience members are
encouraged to offer feedback and ask questions. Audience participation is an important aspect of IOOV because
the more audience members become involved, the closer they come to understanding what it is like to live with a
mental illness and stay in recovery.
IOOV presentations are given to consumer groups, students, law enforcement officials, educators, providers, faith
community members, politicians, professionals, inmates, and interested civic groups. All presentations are offered
free of charge. Groups or organizations interested in seeing a presentation may request that one be given in their
area through their state or local affiliate.
speakers share compelling personal stories about living with mental illness and achieving recovery. The program
was started with a grant from Eli Lily and Company.
IOOV is an opportunity for those who have struggled with mental illness to gain confidence and to share their
individual experiences of recovery and transformation. Throughout the IOOV presentation, audience members are
encouraged to offer feedback and ask questions. Audience participation is an important aspect of IOOV because
the more audience members become involved, the closer they come to understanding what it is like to live with a
mental illness and stay in recovery.
IOOV presentations are given to consumer groups, students, law enforcement officials, educators, providers, faith
community members, politicians, professionals, inmates, and interested civic groups. All presentations are offered
free of charge. Groups or organizations interested in seeing a presentation may request that one be given in their
area through their state or local affiliate.
What is "In Our Own Voice?"
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The goals of IOOV are to meet the need for consumer- run initiatives, to set a standard for quality education about mental illness from those who have been
there, to offer genuine work opportunities, to encourage self-confidence and self-esteem in presenters, and to focus on recovery and the message of hope.
Anyone familiar with mental illness knows that recovery is not a singular event, but a multi-dimensional, multi-linear journey characterized more by the mindset
of the one taking it than by his or her condition at any given moment along the way. Understanding recovery as having several dimensions makes its uneven
course easier to accept. Recovery is the point in someone’s illness in which the illness is no longer the first and foremost part of his or her life, no longer the
essence of all his or her existence.
there, to offer genuine work opportunities, to encourage self-confidence and self-esteem in presenters, and to focus on recovery and the message of hope.
Anyone familiar with mental illness knows that recovery is not a singular event, but a multi-dimensional, multi-linear journey characterized more by the mindset
of the one taking it than by his or her condition at any given moment along the way. Understanding recovery as having several dimensions makes its uneven
course easier to accept. Recovery is the point in someone’s illness in which the illness is no longer the first and foremost part of his or her life, no longer the
essence of all his or her existence.
- A presentation by consumers that creates awareness about what is involved in recovery from mental illness.
- A powerful anti-stigma tool to change hearts, minds, and attitudes about mental illness.
- An opportunity for consumers to gain self-confidence, self-esteem, and income while serving as role models for
the community. - Living proof that recovery from mental illness is an ongoing reality.
What it is:
- Hear from people who have struggled with disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other
severe mental illnesses. - A brief video features consumers speaking about the topics of Dark Days, Acceptance, Treatment, Coping Skills, and
Successes, Hopes, and Dreams. - Gain insight into how people with serious mental illnesses cope with the realities of their disorders while reclaiming
productive lives. - Ask questions from the real experts -- the consumers are the ones who "have been there."
- A Take Home Packet is distributed to all attendees, which includes resources and an opportunity for program evaluation.
The presentation:
- Consumers…in day programs, inpatient settings, support groups, and other community settings who can share,
learn, and find hope for successful living. - Family and friends…who may need further reassurance of the possibility of recovery for their loved ones.
- Health care providers…who desire strengthened communication with their clients and improved outcomes.
- Law enforcement officials…to increase awareness of and sensitivity to behaviors triggered by mental illness.
- Faith communities…to increase responsiveness to people with mental illnesses who may first turn to their
spiritual community for guidance. - Students…of various age levels, who wish to expand their knowledge of living with mental illness.
- Any community or civic organization…who may be interested in learning more about mental illnesses and
recovery.
The audience:
- Raises awareness in communities about recovery from
mental illness - Empowers consumers by providing a path to recovery
- Presents the real face of mental illness
- Combats stigma by opening dialogue
- Provides supported employment opportunities for consumers
- Increases visibility of NAMI as a resource
Why must we have this program?
What people are saying about In Our Own Voice: "[This] program shows the hope in recovery if we use all the tools available today and work toward that goal." - Consumer in CA "The advice I learned about how to structure my day and having a positive attitude helps me realize what I can become. I hope this program reaches each and every consumer." - VA audience member "It helped me think about what consumers on my caseload may be going through." - Professional, San Diego, CA "It is great when a person can get help to overcome something that the general public does not or cannot see." - Anonymous, SD "I have a friend diagnosed with depression – this helps me understand what she is going through." - High school student, MO "Willingness to share personal stories made these illnesses real to me." - Nursing student, AZ "It really opened my eyes to what some people have to go through and now I have a new perspective on the way I look at this." - High school student, MD |
More information regarding the In Our Own Voice program, including information about its history and
testimonials, is available at NAMI national's (our national affiliate) website:
http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=In_Our_Own_Voice
You can also contact your local affiliate, or contact NAMI Arizona and ask to speak with the Program Director
about In Our Own Voice.
testimonials, is available at NAMI national's (our national affiliate) website:
http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=In_Our_Own_Voice
You can also contact your local affiliate, or contact NAMI Arizona and ask to speak with the Program Director
about In Our Own Voice.
For more information...
- These presentations are scheduled (in advance) upon request for organizations. If you are an organization that
would like more information or would like to schedule a presentation, please contact your local affiliate.
If you are an individual that would like to see this presentation, we suggest asking an organization that you are involved with (business, non-profit, church,
school, etc.) to schedule one for that organization. Local affiliates also choose at times to schedule presentation for the general public; contact your local
affiliate to inquire if and when they plan to schedule presentation for the general public.
How can I attend an In Our Own Voice presentation and/or how can my
organization schedule a presentation?
organization schedule a presentation?
Yes. If you are interested in becoming an In Our Own Voice presenter, please (like with all other NAMI Arizona programs) contact your local affiliate to
indicate your interest in being trained as an In Our Own Voice presenter. If your local affiliates is involved in this program (not all affiliates are currently
hosting this program), they will record your interest and contact you when the next training is being scheduled.
indicate your interest in being trained as an In Our Own Voice presenter. If your local affiliates is involved in this program (not all affiliates are currently
hosting this program), they will record your interest and contact you when the next training is being scheduled.
Can I become an In Our Own Voice Presenter?
Below are links to news for affiliates that publish their news online. If you would like to learn of news at an affiliate
where there is no link or if you desire to learn more about the news you discover on an affiliates' news site, please
contact that affiliate; contact information available at the NAMI Arizona's Local Affiliates page.
where there is no link or if you desire to learn more about the news you discover on an affiliates' news site, please
contact that affiliate; contact information available at the NAMI Arizona's Local Affiliates page.
A one-and-a-half hour interactive, multimedia presentation by consumers that offers hope and provides insight into the
recovery now possible for people with mental illness.
recovery now possible for people with mental illness.
Some local affiliates in Arizona can host these
presentations in Spanishas well. Please contact your
local affiliates to inquire if they offer IOOV in Spanish.
presentations in Spanishas well. Please contact your
local affiliates to inquire if they offer IOOV in Spanish.
IOOV in Spanish
