The National Alliance of Mental Illness club, or NAMI club, is scheduled to have a meeting on Monday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the lecture hall. This is their second meeting, and they will be screening the first half of the movie Inside Out 2.
“I think this club should help students who are struggling with mental health, or know people that are struggling with mental health,” NAMI Sponsor Alison McGinnis said. “It can help with students who are even looking into a career in mental health.”
The NAMI club teaches its members about different mental health conditions and coping skills for dealing with each. It incorporates activities that help with mental health and plans to take field trips with its members.
“I think that NAMI is a great way to educate yourself on mental health,” NAMI president Karly Foster said. “This is a great club for anyone who has ever been around mental illness or just wants to learn about it.”
The NAMI club is part of an existing organization that has locations all over the US, the closest to Lindale being a campus in Tyler. The club is the first high school installation in the state of Texas; other high school NAMI clubs exist in other states around the US.
“The NAMI club is a unique opportunity to get started in a new club and support people who need help with mental health,” McGinnis said. “Just check it out. We are going to try to make it fun.”
The NAMI leadership is all student run. The President is Foster, the Vice President is Aaliyah Jackson, the secretary is Tevi Lane, and the marketing officer is Bradly Novak.
“I joined this club because Mrs.McGinnis initially reached out to me, thinking I would be a great candidate for this new club,” Foster said. “I figured that I want to be a great mental health advocate and that this is probably a good way to start.”
