UU NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is a relatively new organization on Union University’s campus centered on providing support to individuals facing mental health issues and on ending the stigma of discussing mental illness.
NAMI is a national organization that has existed for years, but Union’s chapter just began within the past year. NAMI aids individuals struggling with mental illness and provides assistance to their caregivers. They offer classes and training as well as more specialized help.
NAMI’s role on campus is geared more towards college living. This involves providing information about transitioning to college life, handling stressors and teaching coping skills to Union’s students.
“I think that as college students, we’re at risk of letting our mental health take the back burner,” said senior social work major Haley Henley. “We don’t really think about our emotional and our mental health and how it affects our life.”
Another of NAMI’s goals is to raise awareness about issues of mental health. NAMI hopes to destigmatize the concept of mental illness and provide a safe environment free of judgment on Union’s campus.
“College-age is the prime time for mental illnesses to start showing up,” said Nicolette Humphries, UU NAMI’s president and senior social work major. “Mental illness is just like any physical illness. It needs to be taken care of.”
As a growing organization, NAMI hopes to host more events to raise both awareness and funds towards reaching their goal of creating a stigma-free campus. They have already partnered with the social work department to host the Stomp Out Stigma 5K.
NAMI meetings are held every other Tuesday, and the meetings alternate between informational topics and a much more informal, relaxation-focused format. The meetings aimed at providing a moment of relaxation amidst a busy college schedule could include a game night, a movie night and even a yoga night. The next meeting will be held on November 5.
Students interested in involvement with NAMI can contact President, Nicolette Humphries, or Tammy Patton, the organization’s faculty advisor, through Union’s website. UU NAMI can be found on Facebook or Instagram @nami._uu.