In Our Own Voice (IOOV)is a unique public education program developed by NAMI, in which two trained consumer speakers share compelling personal stories about living with mental illness and achieving recovery.

The program was started with a grant from Eli Lily and Company.

IOOV is an opportunity for those who have struggled with mental illness to gain confidence and to share their individual experiences of recovery and transformation.

Throughout the IOOV presentation, audience members are encouraged to offer feedback and ask questions. Audience participation is an important aspect of IOOV because the more audience members become involved, the closer they come to understanding what it is like to live with a mental illness and stay in recovery.

IOOV presentations are given to consumer groups, students, law enforcement officials, educators, providers, faith community members, politicians, professionals, inmates, and interested civic groups.

All presentations are offered free of charge.

Groups or organizations interested in seeing a presentation may request that one be given in their area through their state or local affiliate.

The goals of IOOV are to meet the need for consumer- run initiatives, to set a standard for quality education about mental illness from those who have been there, to offer genuine work opportunities, to encourage self-confidence and self-esteem in presenters, and to focus on recovery and the message of hope.

Anyone familiar with mental illness knows that recovery is not a singular event, but a multi-dimensional, multi-linear journey characterized more by the mindset of the one taking it than by his or her condition at any given moment along the way.

Understanding recovery as having several dimensions makes its uneven course easier to accept. Much as we don't blame the cancer patient for dying of invasive tumors, we can't condemn a consumer whose symptoms overtake his or her best efforts to manage illness.

Recovery is the point in someone's illness in which the illness is no longer the first and foremost part of his or her life, no longer the essence of all his or her existence.

Ultimately, recovery is about attitude and making the effort.

For more information about our education, training or support programs, please call the NAMI-NYS Office at (800) 950-3228.

NAMI-NYS Affiliates Offering the In-Our-Own-Voice Program

New York State Counties

Cattaraugus: NAMI Cattaraugus 716-372-4123

Cayuga: No offerings. Call NAMI Syracuse 315-487-2085

Essex : NAMI Champlain Valley 518-561-2685

Rockland: NAMI FAMILYA of Rockland 845-359-8787

Greene: NAMI Greene 518-622-9163, x246

 New York: NAMI NYC Metro 212-684-3365

Montgomery : NAMI Montgomery, Fulton and Hamilton 518-843-3261

Warren: NAMI North Country 518-668-3367

Sullivan: NAMI Sullivan 845-794-1029

Putnam: NAMI Putnam 845-278-7600, x246

Queens: NAMI Queens/Nassau 516-326-0797

Monroe : NAMI Rochester Families and Friends 585-423-1593

Richmond: NAMI NYC Staten Island 718-477-1700

Rensselaer : Call NAMI-NYS for Latham course 518-462-2000, NAMI Greene 518-622-9163, x246

Westchester: NAMI Westchester 914-592-5458