 1. Introduce yourself. Describe who you are and why you are speaking or writing. Knowing your name and where you live helps legislators remember you and feel connected. Complete the following sentence or write your own: I’m (name) and I’m from (county or city). 2. Let your legislator or committee members know what you are advocating for. If possible, name a specific bill. Complete the following sentence or write your own: I’m (writing or here today) to ask for your support to build our mental health system. 3. Let your legislator or committee members know how you are impacted by mental illnesses. This gives a real face to mental illnesses and recovery. Complete the following sentence or write your own: I (live with or am a parent of a child or have a relative/friend with) a mental illness. 4. Tell your story. To tell your story effectively, answer the following questions in a few sentences:
Complete the following sentence or write your own: Before I/we got the help I/we needed, I/we went through some challenging times such as...
Complete the following sentence or write your own: The support I get from my (name of service or type of professional) has helped me manage my (main diagnosis or mental health condition).
Complete one of the following sentences or write your own. Today, I am (a peer-support specialist; working part time; living on my own; doing much better; hopeful, staying out of jail/hospital, etc.). 5. Make your point. Help others by giving a brief positive message about mental health services and recovery. Complete one of the following sentences or write your own: Mental health services are an investment in recovery. I'm living proof. Mental illnesses are common and recovery is possible. Many people have mental illnesses like mine. With mental health services, people can experience recovery. Author: NAMI MinnesotaYou can sign up for NAMI Minnesota's Legislative updates here.  COVID-19 is making almost everything more difficult, including mental health advocacy at the state legislature. With a remote session, we have to do more to effectively engage legislators. NAMI Minnesota is doing their best to represent people with mental illnesses, but your help is needed if we are going to have a successful legislative session and pass bills to build our mental health system. The most powerful tool you have as an advocate is your personal story. (Click to Tweet)  You don't need to know all the facts, all you need is your personal experience with the mental health system and your insight into the parts of our system that are working or need improvement.
These are just a few areas where they could use your insights. Telling your story is important and it's easier than you might think. All you need to do is capture the following details in one page or less:
A story can be anonymous if you like, or you can just use your first name if that's what you're comfortable with at this time. Once you've written your story, please send it to namihelps@namimn.org. If you'd also like it to be considered for publication on this blog, send it our way as well at namiwashingtoncounty@namimn.org. Thank you for joining our advocacy team as a storyteller! Author: NAMI MinnesotaYou can sign up for NAMI Minnesota's Legislative updates here. This week (October 4 - 10) is Mental Illness Awareness Week. It is a time to highlight that mental illness does not discriminate - any race, any sex, any income level. Anyone may be among the one in four people who will have a definable mental illness during their lifetime. Research continues to learn more about how the physiology, chemistry and electric circuitry of the brain may be impaired and disordered with damaging, but often treatable, outcomes. This year’s theme is, “What People with a Mental Illness Want You to Know.” While each individual may have specific messages that recognize the personal impact of illness on everyday living, some things are universal. People with a mental illness want you to know it is not a choice. It is not a weakness, and it is not the product of a bad upbringing. It is an organically based illness--the same as any other. Every year, October 10 is recognized as ‘World Mental Health Day’. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the significance of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts to the health of people living with mental illness and to the systems that support them this year. As economic consequences are being felt globally, it is putting additional stresses on a system that is under-built and underfunded, and WHO calls for investment into mental health programs at the national and international levels. This week, Washington County convened its first week-long Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training class for Law Enforcement and Corrections since before the virus appeared. Over 20 County professionals are in attendance. It is not uncommon for patrol officers to report that 50% of their calls involve some aspect of mental illness. As one Washington County Deputy stated, “Mental health issues are more of a pandemic than the pandemic.” This month, $3,000,000 of the CARES Act funding in Minnesota will be allocated to help community-based mental health providers address the costs of critical care supplies, cleaning, social distancing and the costs of business interruptions related to COVID-19. NAMI Washington County (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) exists to educate, advocate, and support families who experience mental illnesses.
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