NAMI Ending the Silence
NAMI Ending the Silence is a free 50-minute mental health education program designed to complement health, science, or psychology classes. Ending the Silence features individuals and family members whose lives have been affected by mental illness, who visit high schools and other locations to provide their perspectives based on their lived experience with mental health.

COVID-19 Update: Classes and Presentations Canceled Until Further Notice

NAMI Northern Virginia's work to provide education to our community will continue during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because we are not permitted to have in-person classes or presentations at this time, we are currently looking into virtual alternatives for this spring.


What You'll Learn
Ending the Silence features real faces and real-life stories that help high school students learn more effectively. Audience members get a rare opportunity to ask questions about topics in mental health that are too often surrounded by silence.

Topics covered in the presentation include:
  • Signs and symptoms of mental illness
  • Statistics on how mental illness affects youth
  • Personal perspectives on the experience of living with mental illness
  • Recovery and coping strategies
  • Ways to help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness
  • How to help friends

Ending the Silence Audiences
Students & Youth: NAMI Ending the Silence for Students & Youth provides mental health education to junior and senior high school students and youth groups. An educational presentation is followed by a hopeful personal story, shared by a NAMI-trained young adult who experienced a mental health condition while in school. Presenters take questions from the audience and resource cards are made available to participants.

​Parents & Caregivers: NAMI Ending the Silence for Parents & Caregivers provides a short educational program that includes an educational presentation by a parent, and a hopeful personal story, shared by NAMI-trained young adult who experienced a mental health condition while in school. Presenters take questions from the audience and resources and information is made available to participants.

​Educators & School Staff: NAMI Ending the Silence for Educators & School Staff provides an educational presentation by a team that includes an educator, parent, and young adult. A short educational program is followed by a hopeful personal story, shared by a NAMI-trained young adult who experienced a mental health condition while in school. Presenters take questions from the audience and resources and information is made available to participants.
Contact us at info@nami-nova.org to learn more about scheduling a presentation for your school or youth group.

Share Your Story Through Ending the Silence
Are you an individual or a family member of an individual who lived with a mental health condition as a teen?Are you a young adult living well with a mental health condition? Do you want to use your lived experience to help teens, parents, and school staff better understand youth mental health and be able to help youth with mental health needs?

Consider applying to become a NAMI Ending the Silence Presenter with NAMI Northern Virginia! Our next in-person training will be the weekend of May 1st, 2020 (exact date TBD). Please contact Megan Souza at msouza@nami-nova.org to learn more about how to get involved or download the application here.