Ending the Silence is an engaging presentation about mental health for middle and high school students and parents. The presentation gives an opportunity for audience members to ask questions and learn more about an often-misunderstood topic. The message of empathy and hope encourages people to actively care for themselves and for their peers/students,/children whether by reaching out for help, encouraging a friend, student or family member to seek help, or by reducing stigma. The message of hope and recovery from people who share their own personal experiences is very powerful. The goal of NAMI ETS is to create a generation of individuals who are well-positioned to end the silence and stigma surrounding mental illness.

Ending the Silence for Parents is delivered by a young adult and by a lead presenter who is a parent with experience supporting a child with mental health challenges.

Topics include:

• Signs and symptoms of mental illness and suicide
• Statistics on how mental illness affects youth
• Personal perspectives on the experience of living with mental illness
• Recovery and coping strategies and resources available
• Ways to seek help for their child
• How to communicate and advocate for their child with a health care provider and with the school
• Accommodations and  IEP plans 
• Ways to help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness