National Alliance of Mental Illness Internship

My internship with the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) gave me experience in various aspects of the mental health field. I performed administrative duties when I answered the helpline, consisting of locating mental health related resources for callers. I learned firsthand what kind of options are available in Nevada as well as what is severely lacking. This has inspired my desire to advocate for mental health awareness and I can do so through NAMI’s advocacy program. I also attended several tabling events which consisted of community outreach. In getting to meet different members of the community I was exposed to the lack of understanding that many people have when it comes to mental health, and I was also able to play a small part in reducing stigma. I also received support group facilitator training and have since led and continue to lead family support groups. Being in these support groups has brought me a more personal first-hand understanding of what people with loved ones who suffer mental health issues experience and what it is they are looking for. I also often find myself learning so much just hearing their stories.

As my major area of study is psychology, this internship has lined up perfectly with my current education. The program exposed me to mental health issues, needs, and opportunities. NAMI is peer led and much of the work is not done by trained mental health professionals and they do not offer direct counseling. The program instead offers education, support and resources.  This is a great way for someone working on their bachelor’s in psychology to be exposed to many different perspectives without the requirement of a degree or license. While a college degree is not necessary to intern or volunteer with NAMI, in order to be successful, an intern should have a basic knowledge of mental health issues sufficient enough to reduce bias or stigma. Taking classes such as abnormal psychology and social psychology gave me a much stronger foundation before starting my internship.

Overall, NAMI has not just given me experience and education but has connected me with some amazing people. The staff really cares about your success, and they are a great resource for networking. I am still interested in pursuing a career in the mental health field, but my direction has turned more toward focusing on experimental psychology and research. Seeing how much further we still must go in order to be able to truly help and improve the mental health field has inspired me to forge a path in applied psychology. While I pursue a masters in this field, I am excited to continue to volunteer with NAMI. The great part is that even if I move to another state, NAMI is a national organization and therefore, I can always seek them out.  Being a part of NAMI, as an intern or a volunteer is not extremely difficult. They provide training, so pursuing a career with NAMI is accessible but a bachelor’s degree would be required for most of the full-time positions.

Some advice for incoming interns with NAMI is that the training is great but really participate in the presentations and the support groups. This helps get you out of your comfort zone. Imposter syndrome may rear its head but do not let it hold you back. Everyone goes through it. It took me a while to transition from training to support group facilitator but once I did, I found it incredibly rewarding. Training is given in many areas, presenters for suicide awareness, advocacy, group facilitators and many sub areas fall under these. However, not everything works for everyone, so you find where you think you best fit. And I promise, everyone has something to offer.