It's Prime Time for Mental Health!

With the pandemic highlighting mental health needs more than ever, we're putting a new focus on advocacy at the state Capitol.

This year, we're doing things differently:

• we're spreading the event over several days;
• sessions will be online from the comfort of your home;
• no travel is necessary;
• registration is FREE!

Can't participate in all sessions? Regardless of how many sessions you sign up for, we'll record and send ALL of them to you!

You can watch them at your convenience.

Log-in credentials will be provided by e-mail prior to each session.

Wednesday, Feb. 17 -- Becoming a Mental Health Advocate

9 am CT/10 am ET -- Two hours

Speakers:

• Allen Bartels, President, NAMI Tennessee Board of Directors
• Commissioner Marie Williams, Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
• Alisa LaPolt, NAMI Tennessee Policy & Advocacy Director
• Bill Dobbins, NAMI Tennessee governmental affairs consultant

Here's what you'll learn:

• NAMI Tennessee’s priorities for mental health policies;
• Why it's important to be a mental health advocate;
• How to set up a conference call/Zoom call with your legislator;
• What to say – and what not to say – to legislators;
• How to engage your lawmakers on social media – follow and like them;
• Watch/listen to real online meetings with a few legislators .

Tuesday, Feb. 23 -- Find Your Voice, Tell Your Story

12 pm CT/1 pm ET -- Two hours

Participants will learn to:

• Speak with confidence;
• Gain clarity around what they’re seeking;
• Tell their story in an impactful way.

Participants will learn how to condense their story on mental illness, write it on a worksheet, and practice telling the story to the group for feedback.

Wednesday, Feb. 24 -- Words Matter & Social Media Storm

12 pm CT/1 pm ET -- One hour

Here's what you'll learn:

• Take your mental health story and condense into a short, succinct email or social media post;
• Learn key words that will grab the attention of policymakers;
• Learn the rules of engagement for social media.

You'll receive pre-written social media posts for Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or you can come up with your own wording.

At noon CT/1 pm ET, we'll storm social media together and gain attention for our messages around better mental health!

Wednesday, March 3 -- Diversity & Mental Health Messaging

4 pm CT/5 pm ET -- One hour

• Understand what members of these groups face when seeking mental health treatment.
• Learn how these groups are disproportionately affected.
• Learn why it’s important for marginalized individuals in the African-American and LGBTQ+ communities to speak up about mental health issues.
• Discover what leaders in these communities are doing about mental health in Tennessee.

Wednesday, March 10 -- Young Adult Advocacy

4 pm CT/5 pm ET -- One hour

• Hear why young adults are willing to get involved in mental health advocacy
• Learn what college and universities around the state are doing around public policy and advocacy
• Brainstorm on ways that NAMI Tennessee can help young adults become part of a mental health movement.