The National Alliance on Mental Illness in Utah

Last week, we attended a seminar conducted by a representative of NAMI Utah in our college. It was a great chance to learn more about the mission of this organization and the way it influences culture, health beliefs and traditions in the state.

The speaker was a very agreeable woman named Madinah. First of all, the speaker explained us that the abbreviation “NAMI” stands for The National Alliance on Mental Illness. It is the organization whose primary concern is to care, support and improve the life quality of people with various mental illnesses, including some minor mental health problems, such as depression, as well as more grave psychological disorders.  Then, in a rather detailed way, Madinah discussed the main education and support programs at NAMI aimed at families, individuals and the communities, which provide professional psychological help, exchange of personal experience, and professional trainings for social workers, teachers and clergy. The most surprising and appealing thing was that all the programs in NAMI were absolutely free!

During this seminar, I also discovered that the state of Utah cares a lot about poor and sick people by providing support, advocacy and help in solving their problems. The NAMI Utah projects seem to perfectly meet the moral values and principles of mutual support that are accepted in this state whose population is much influenced by the Church of the Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). Thus, analyzing the presentation I came to the conclusion that I would not change anything in the work of this organization. They do a great job by helping people with mental illnesses to recover and get a second chance to lead a normal life.

I must admit that learning about the work of NAMI Utah will help me in my future profession of a hospital administrator. Working with sick people in a hospital, hospice, outpatient clinic or drug-abuse center, I will apply the principles developed in NAMI in order to understand the patients better and provide them with my empathy and support, which will certainly accelerate their recovery.

In conclusion, it may be said that our meeting with a representative of NAMI Utah gave us a great chance to learn more about social health programs and health beliefs in this state. I have the best impressions of this seminar; and now, I am considering applying NAMI’s principles in my future job.