NAMI Vermont is a free NAMI Smarts for Advocacy training on January 19, 2025. The NAMI Smarts program provides participants with the knowledge and practice they need to share their story of mental health lived experiences as an individual, family member, or advocate in a powerful, moving way to effect legislative change.
The training session will take place virtually on Zoom, allowing advocates from across the state to participate. It will cover Modules 1, 2, and 3 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM. Registration is required to attend. For more information and to register, please visit www.namivt.org/advocacy/#advocacy-training.
Module 1 (Telling Your Story) will teach participants:
- Why mental health advocacy is so important
- How to tell a compelling personal story that is inspiring and makes an “ask” in 90 seconds
- How to write and share your own personal story in seven steps
Modules 2 and 3 (Contacting and Meeting Your Policymaker) will train participants on how to:
- Contact your policymaker
- Write an effective email
- Give an elevator pitch
- Make an impactful phone call
- Meet with your policymaker
- Orchestrate a successful meeting with an elected official
Our mission is to support, educate, and advocate so that all communities, families, and individuals affected by mental illness or mental health challenges can build better lives. Stigma discourages individuals from getting help and is a key barrier to winning public support to improve our mental health system of care. This stigma will only be eradicated through consistent, effective outreach and public awareness that spotlights the recovery stories of individuals who have lived experience with mental illness. NAMI Vermont believes that advocacy for a better system of mental health care is more effective when individuals living with mental illness, family members, and healthcare providers work together.
We encourage providers, government agencies, and legislative representatives to listen to the voices of family members and peers when considering funding decisions related to services that support families and individuals living with mental health conditions in Vermont.
For more information on NAMI Vermont’s advocacy efforts, visit namivt.org/advocacy/. To learn more about the NAMI Smarts program, call (802) 876-7949 x100 or email [email protected].
