In Our Own Voice (IOOV) is an anti-stigma/public education program given by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) members who are consumers (people who have a mental illness/psychiatric diagnosis). The program has been used in Michigan since 1997. There are trained presenters statewide. The IOOV program has changed a lot through the years. At first the program was called Living with Schizophrenia. Then it was called Living with Schizophrenia and other Mental Illness. After a training manual revamp, it was renamed In Our Own Voice, often called IOOV for short.

IOOV features two people who have a mental illness/psychiatric diagnosis and a DVD that allows other people who have a mental illness/psychiatric diagnosis to talk about their experiences about what it is like to have a mental illness, and to try to find a great recovery. What makes this program special is the amount of audience interaction that happens. The DVD is shown in segments and after each segment IOOV presenters talk about their story. The stories are often compelling, riveting and earth shaking. The audience discussion is also compelling, riveting and often earth shaking.

The segments to an IOOV presentation are:

Introductions Dark Days Acceptance Treatment Coping Skills Successes, Hopes and Dreams

After the IOOV presenters play the DVD and present their personal story for each section, they ask a question to help get audience interaction started. The audience interaction is always amazing. The presenters are allowed to tell an audience what they think and feel, as long as it is a part of their personal recovery story, and it doesn't take them to a place they are uncomfortable going. This program is routinely used in schools, with police, in faith communities, with family and consumer audiences, and with the general public.

Because of audience differences each IOOV presentation is different, even when the IOOV presenters are the same. IOOV presenters take you from the depths of despair to the heights of success that come from learning how to cope with a mental illness successfully. Because the story moves from the darkest times to successes, it is an awesome experience, modeling that there is a path to recovery. Other people can do it too. All may not hit each of the steps in the order presented, but this is a path that many have found that has worked for them.

To give this program, IOOV presenters go to a two-day training that is held in different places around the state. Presenters are taught ways to share their story effectively, how to present to different audiences, practice speaking skills, explore ways to ask leading questions that will help audience discussion, and basic communication skills. The presenters are NAMI members, and are reimbursed mileage from their home affiliates, but are not paid to present.

When surveyed after they have given presentations for a couple of years, people talk about how much giving IOOV presentations has helped them grow, helped audience members grow, and they are excited about future possibilities; both for themselves and for the In Our Own Voice program. There is also evidence that this program helps to shatter stigma when used in every audience.

For more information or to find out about scheduling a presentation (all presentations are free of charge) you can contact NAMI Michigan 1-800-331-4264 (Consumer Programs Director) or go to the NAMI MI website.

For a presentation or more information in the Detroit Metro Area contact NAMI Metro at 248-348-7197

If more information is desired about the IOOV program, there is more information on the NAMI national website. 

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