NAMI Wake County Ending The Silence Presenter Application Logo

  • NAMI Ending The Silence Presenter Application

    For ETS - Student, Families, and Staff Presenters

  • WHAT IS NAMI ENDING THE SILENCE?
    Ending the Silence (ETS) is a 50-minute mental health presentation for middle and high school aged youth available at no cost to schools, youth clubs, and youth groups.

    Presented by a trained group consisting of:

    • A young adult living with a mental health challenge, age 18-35
    • An adult living in recovery with mental illness or family member of an individual living with mental illness.


    WHAT DOES ETS ACCOMPLISH?
    Helps youth and those associated with them to learn early warning signs of mental illness and are provided with resources and tools to help themselves, friends or family members who may be in need of support.


    Contact with an individual living with mental illness dispels myths, instills a message of hope and recovery and encourages students to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.


    ETS reduces stigma through:

    • Education—provides accurate information about mental illness to promote understanding and dispel myths.
    • Personal contact—puts a human face to mental illness and provides hope that recovery is possible.


    CATEGORIES OF ETS PRESENTATIONS
    There are three versions of the ETS Presentation Package – ETS for Students, ETS for Families, and ETS for School Staff:


    NAMI Ending the Silence (ETS) for Students is a 60-minute presentation for middle and high school students that helps raise awareness and change perceptions around mental health conditions. The presentation includes:

    • Warning Signs
    • Facts and Statistics
    • How to get help for themselves or a friend


    The goal of NAMI ETS for Students is to create a generation of students who are well-positioned to end the silence and stigma surrounding mental illness.


    NAMI Ending the Silence (ETS) for Families is a 60-minute presentation for parents and other primary caregivers of middle and high school students that helps raise awareness around mental health conditions. The presentation includes:

    • Warning Signs
    • Facts and Statistics
    • How to approach your student
    • How to work with school staff

    The goal of NAMI ETS for Families is to educate families about the early warning signs of mental illness and how early recognition and prevention is key to positive outcomes.


    NAMI Ending the Silence (ETS) for School Staff is a 50-minute presentation for middle and high school staff that helps raise awareness around mental health conditions. The presentation includes:

    • Warning Signs
    • Facts and Statistics
    • How to approach your student
    • How to work with families


    The goal of NAMI ETS for School Staff is to educate school staff members about the early warning signs of mental illness and how early recognition and prevention is key to positive outcomes.

  • Young Adult Presenter
    Role Overview:
    The Young Adult Presenter shares their personal journey of living with a mental health condition to help students better understand mental health, reduce stigma, and encourage help-seeking behaviors. Presenters co-lead Ending the Silence presentations alongside a Lead Presenter in school settings, speaking to middle and high school students.

    Key Responsibilities:

    • Share a prepared, structured personal story of mental health recovery.
    • Co-present the Ending the Silence program alongside a Lead Presenter.
    • Engage with students in a classroom or assembly setting.
    • Answer student questions in an age-appropriate and supportive manner.
    • Serve as a relatable, hopeful role model for students.

    Requirements:

    • Must be a young adult (18-35) living with a mental health condition in recovery and comfortable sharing their personal journey.
    • Strong communication skills and ability to present in front of groups.
    • Willingness to complete NAMI's Ending the Silence training program.
    • Passion for reducing stigma and empowering young people to seek help.


    Lead Presenter
    Role Overview:
    The Lead Presenter delivers the educational portion of the Ending the Silence presentation, providing students, families, and school staff with foundational knowledge about mental health, warning signs, and how to support those in need. Lead Presenters co-lead the program with a Young Adult Presenter in school settings.


    Key Responsibilities:

    • Present the structured Ending the Silence educational content to students, families, or school staff.
    • Facilitate discussions and ensure the presentation stays on track.
    • Support the Young Adult Presenter in sharing their story.
    • Answer audience questions and provide resource referrals when appropriate.

    Requirements:

    • Passion for mental health education and reducing stigma.
    • Comfortable speaking in front of groups and leading structured presentations.
    • Willingness to complete NAMI’s Ending the Silence training program.
    • Experience in education, mental health, or public speaking is a plus but not required.
    • Prospective leaders must be an adult who is either a family member or a person with a mental health condition in recovery. 


    Time Commitment:

    • Online training (~1.5 hours for ETS Students; ~1 hour for ETS Families/Staff).
    • In-person group coaching session (~3-4 hours).
    • Presentation time (~1-2 hours per session).
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