NAMI Ending the Silence for Middle and High School Youth
NAMI Fairbanks is answering the call to address teen suicide among our youth. We plan to provide NAMI Ending the Silence presentations in our schools that will help destigmatize and bring awareness to mental health for middle and high school students, parents, and staff.
Alaska ranks #2 in the nation for suicides per capita. In ages 10-24, suicide is the second leading cause of death, according to the CDC. In 2021, 8,000 Alaskans aged 12-17 had depression. Of those, 63% did not receive any care. See the statistical data sheets from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and NAMI below.
Community Concern
When the Golden Heart Rotary Club of Fairbanks and the Fairbanks Wellness Coalition approached us to find out what programs we offer that address teen suicide, we knew we had to respond with the NAMI Ending the Silence program. It is evidence-based with research showing that this program changes middle and high school students’ knowledge and attitudes toward mental health conditions and toward seeking help.
What is NAMI Ending the Silence?
NAMI Ending the Silence is a prevention and early intervention presentation that engages youth, school staff, and families in a discussion about mental health. It is available free for 3 audiences: students, families, and school staff.
As a tool in reducing and preventing teen suicide, the presentations equip students, staff, and parents to know the warning signs, coping strategies, and how to help each other. The information is presented by a trained team consisting of a young adult (18-35) with a mental health condition and an adult with a mental health condition or family member of a person who has a mental health condition. Audiences learn that it is okay to talk about their own mental health and how to get help.
Young Adult and Family Member Volunteers Wanted
NAMI Fairbanks is seeking young adult and family member volunteers who are passionate about helping youth and their families, and want to receive the free training that NAMI offers to become a presenter for this program. Volunteers will be trained to deliver high-quality presentations to local schools, youth-serving agencies, staff, and parents.
By educating our local youth on how to advocate for their mental well-being, destigmatizing mental illness, and providing a team approach that includes parents and school staff, we will see more of our young people reaching out for the care they need. We can strengthen our youth to lead healthy fulfilling lives supported by a community that cares.
Youth Taking Action
The North Pole Alaska Adventure LEOs are no strangers to seeing mental illness affect their peers. They are the youth arm of the North Pole Lions Club and they participate in service projects to benefit their community. In May, they organized a Mental Health Awareness 5K Run and donated the funds raised to NAMI Fairbanks. When they heard about the NAMI Ending the Silence program, the LEOs jumped on board with their support and agreed to help with creating a promotional video.
Contact NAMI Fairbanks
NAMI Fairbanks is responding to the community’s interest in helping our youth develop their skills in identifying mental health issues, how to openly talk about them, and how to get help for themselves and their peers through this youth program. Please call 907-456-4704 if you are interested in becoming trained as a Young Adult of Family Member presenter, or if you would like to have NAMI Ending the Silence in your school. You can also complete the Volunteer Interest Form and submit it by clicking the button below.
