NAMI
(the National Alliance on Mental Illness)is a nationwide non-profit
organization dedicated to reducing stigma,
educating others about mental illness, improving quality of life
and protecting the rights of those with mental disabilities and their
families. NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental
health organization. Founded in 1979, NAMI has become the
nation’s voice on mental illness, including NAMI chapters in
every state and in over 1100 local
communities across the country.
We are pleased to
announce that UVM is one of the first colleges to
have its own NAMI chapter. We realize that college is a stressful time,
where people can be easily overworked and stressed. The incidence of
depression on college campuses has increased in the past few years, as
well as incidences of other illnesses. However, we have found that
knowledge about mental disabilities is still lacking and that stigma
still occurs, even at places such as UVM.
NAMI
is working on these issues, primarily at UVM,
but also in Burlington and the surrounding communities. Our goal? To
make UVM a
place where each and every student feels safe from discrimination and
stigma. Working with NAMI national, NAMI Vermont and students from UVM,
we are getting ever closer to accomplishing this goal.
NAMI Convention 2006!