By Emalee Gillis, NAMI Spokane Blog Editor.
See Me is a free presentation directed towards community organizations, groups, and the general public—anyone who wants to better understand mental health and learn how to support others. The presentation covers common signs and symptoms, strategies for supporting someone with a mental health challenge, and tips for maintaining your own well-being. The session concludes with a powerful personal story of recovery from someone living with a mental health condition. It’s called “See Me” because it centers on helping people truly see and understand those living with mental health conditions—not just the illness, but the whole person and their journey. NAMI Spokane recently held a See Me Event at Spokane Falls Community College.
Unlike support groups or clinical courses, See Me is a brief, educational presentation that combines mental health information with personal storytelling. It’s designed for broad community outreach rather than ongoing support or peer-led classes.
According to Chauntelle Liske, the Executive Director of NAMI, “See Me was developed to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health by equipping everyday people with the knowledge and tools to recognize signs of mental health conditions, support others, and care for themselves. See Me is a community-based presentation that increases understanding of mental health through education, practical strategies, and a personal story of recovery. It’s a powerful tool for awareness and connection.”
NAMI Spokane presented the See Me program to students at Spokane Falls Community College on May 27 in the Student Union Building. Ashley Olivarez, Programs and Community Engagement Manager opened the program with information about NAMI Spokane. She explained that NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the largest grassroots organization in the country dedicated to empowering and advocating for those with a mental health condition and their loved ones. She explained that NAMI is home to those who have experienced living with a mental health condition or have lived experience in supporting someone with a mental health condition. NAMI Spokane covers Spokane and the surrounding area. All services are free and confidential. Services include community presentations, support groups, 8 week education courses and resource navigation.
“We talk about mental health to normalize those conversations,” said Ashley. “This is especially important because one of the main barriers to accessing mental health services is the stigma of having a mental health condition.”
Then Ashley shared a video where people shared different aspects of their lives. Some people on the video had kids, others didn’t, some had pets, some didn’t, some had close families, others didn’t, but all of them had a mental health diagnosis.
The people on the video shared some of their symptoms. The symptoms for different people in the video including not eating, sleeping all the time, not sleeping for days on end, and anxiety that builds to a crescendo. Some tried to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs that led to lost jobs, crime and imprisonment. People talked about feeling very isolated and alone.
Ashley then gave some statistics related to mental health in our country.
“1 in 5 adults live with a mental health condition. 1 in 20 have a serious mental health condition. 1 in 6 children have a mental health condition. In our country, the third most likely condition to die from among youth in our country is suicide,” said Ashley.
Ashley presented some slides highlighting the symptoms of common mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, mania, disassociation, and cognitive distortions. For each condition, she shared what you can do to help. For example, a typical symptom of anxiety includes the thinking pattern of fight, flight or flee. Someone supporting that person can help by staying with them and talking in a calm voice. Another example is it is important not to tell a depressed person how to think or feel.
Ashley showed a video where people shared their strategies for success. One person said the best day of his life was when he accepted his mental health condition because that led to recovery. Speakers stressed that it was necessary to advocate for themselves. Another pointed out the importance of maintaining healthy routines. Speakers talked about how they had to work through side effects of their medications. Meditation was important to one person, mindfulness was important to another.
The program then turned to when it is important to call 911 and when it is more appropriate to call 988. Call 911 when there is an active suicide threat or harm to self or others or an overdose. Call 988, the mental health hotline, when a person is thinking about suicide or harm to self or other or where there is a non life-threatening self-injury.
A video on recovery was then shown. For some, recovery was like a roller coaster, others talked about taking baby steps. Speakers shared successes like getting a great job, improved relationships, and staying out of jail.
Chauntelle Liske shared information about secondary trauma. Secondary trauma is when friends, families, or loved ones of someone with a mental health condition experiences trauma.
“It is vitally important to take care of yourself in order to care for another. Self care means doing things that fill your cup, however that works for you, so you are able to care for another,” said Chauntelle.
Ashley then stressed that recovery is possible.
“It is possible to recover from a mental health condition and find meaningful roles in social life, school and work. This is especially true if treatment starts early and the person with the condition plays a strong role in their own recovery process,” said Ashley
A volunteer from NAMI Spokane then shared her journey to recovery from severe depression and anxiety. The floor was then opened for questions and students attending the event shared their stories and concerns.
To request a free See Me program for your organization, email Ashley Olivarez at NAMI Spokane.