Interested in being an advocate, helping those with mental illnesses, becoming a leader in the NAMI community, and making friends in the process?

Start your own NAMI on Campus Club!

Why?

Mental illness is very prevalent on college campuses. By starting a NAMI on Campus affiliate, you can help make a difference in the lives of many people. Campus organizations can:

• Help ourselves, students, and others through mutual support and advocacy
• Educate the student body about serious mental illness
• Pool resources and talents with others to improve services on campus for people with mental illness and their families
• To improve the overall mental health of the college community
• To end the seclusion students feel when there is no one to talk to who can appreciate the problems faced by people with depression and other mental illnesses.

What does it entail?

Starting and maintaining a NAMI on Campus Club takes a commitment. The tasks your group will encounter might include setting up a constitution, recruiting members, finding a meeting area, calling group members, composing mass emails or a chapter website, thinking up fun activities or programs, and the list goes on. However, you will not have to do this alone. NAMI national, state, and affiliate offices are more than willing to help you along the way.

Why NAMI?

• Belonging to a well-known national movement gives you name recognition; therefore, you will have more support for advocacy efforts in your campus and community.
• As a NAMI on Campus leader, you will have access to the leadership benefits provided by the affiliate, state, and national NAMI organizations. These include coaching and guidance, educational program training and tools, leadership tool kits and development opportunities, information and marketing materials, website templates and print material support, technical assistance in multicultural and affinity group outreach, and much more.
• Your members will receive the benefits of membership provided by both the local affiliate, state, and national NAMI organizations. These include funding for particular group activities, the Advocate magazine, your state newsletter, special members-only sections of the website, discounts on conferences and materials, and much more.
• You strengthen NAMI and its advocacy work on the federal and state levels. The more members and NAMI on Campus organizations that NAMI has, the more effective the organization is in its role as the state and nation’s voice on mental illness.

Need more info?

In order to become an official NAMI on Campus club, your group must be endorsed by their locla NAMI affiliate and/or state organization, approved by NAMI National, and recognized by your school.

To be granted club status by NAMI for your campus group, you will need a minimum of five organization members. Chances are that you already know several peers, whether they are living with mental illness or other interested students, who would be interested in joining a NAMI campus chapter. Tell them about your ideas and invite them to come to an initial group meeting.

Also, it is essential to publicize your group and the time of your first meeting around your school. Consider posting notices and flyers in libraries, student centers, cafeterias, campus-circulated newspapers, and on bulletin boards. If you find that you need initial funds for your first meeting (for xeroxing, supplies, refreshments, etc) contact us and we'll work on it with you.

Keep in mind that organizations in which the founder tries to do everything are destined to fail. It is important to share the tasks and responsibilities of being a NAMI on Campus club amongst members of the group.

There might very well already be existing support services on your college campus, for example a mental health clinic or counseling center. You should consider collaborating with these services, and promote one another to pool your resources together.

Where do I sign!?

Ready to start the rewarding path towards advocacy, education and support? To get the ball rolling on your own NAMI on Campus club, send an email to: namioncampus@nami.org. We will assist you in getting your organization started and making it successful!

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