Guide Hosting Mental Health Awareness Events

Ideas for your Awareness Event:
Guide: Hosting Mental Health Awareness Events
Host a NAMI In Our Own Voice presentation targeting a specific group
Host an “Ask the Doctor” session with a local psychiatrist
Host an expert panel for a community forum on a general or specific topic related to mental health -
individuals, family members, treatment or support providers, government officials, etc.
Host a free mental health screening at an appropriate location
Donate mental health related books to your local library, have a release party and invite guests and
have snacks
Host an awareness breakfast with legislators on issues related to mental illness
Host a film screening of an appropriate movie and include a moderated discussion following – such as
Canvas, Kings ParkOC87 (NAMI Virginia can provide more suggestions)
Host an art exhibit by individuals touched by mental illness or related to the topic
Host a book discussion. Promote a particular book on the topic and host a discussion event with
snacks/key speaker
Host a contest – request people send in letters or videos about what mental illness has meant to them
and then publicize results. Assemble submissions into compilation to share.
Host a vigil, balloon release (not the best for the environment) or other visually symbolic act
Getting started:
Plan ahead of time. Give yourself at least 2 months to plan, but the more the better.
Consider forming a planning committee to assist you in the process. Only choose reliable, committed
individuals who you can count on.
Consider what resources you or your organization already has at its disposal (this could include
personal, special skills/technology, key contacts, informational resources etc). Allow this to help guide
you on the type of event you would like to host.
Consider community groups who would be interested in partnering with you to host the event and
make contact. Every community group has the potential to market for you, don’t let them say they
can’t help.
Brainstorm your idea. What is the best possible event you can pull off with available/perceived
personnel, resources, time, etc.? Does your plan have the desired outcome you want? Sometimes it is
good to do this as a guided group discussion with interested partners/ volunteers.
At this point you should establish objectives to help guide planning and ensure your event is realistic
and accomplished in the time allotted. What is the reason for the event? What is the event expected
to accomplish for the organization, participants, visitors and community? Itemize the material you will
need to host the event and when you need them. Start to request specific assistance from potential
partners/community members. Be flexible, sometimes partners will offer unique unexpected
resources that may be very helpful but are not part of the original plan. Just be careful not to stray too
far and make sure you have the staff to manage any new adjustments. This is also the point where you

will want to choose a location/site for your event. Be creative but consider important factors that will
encourage/inhibit participants such as accessibility, parking, etc.
Establishing a theme. The theme of your event can usually be established after you have listed and
prioritized your objectives. The theme is a basics statement about the nature of the event. Is it
unique? What is the nature of the program? The theme helps clarify the purpose of your event while
also making it unique and distinct from other events.
Consider revenue options at event. Is an admission fee reasonable? Food/beverage sales?
Consider licensing, insurance, permits and other risk management questions related to your event.
Depending on what sort of event you’re hosting, you may need to investigate the need for a special
license or consider the liability risk to your organization.
Consider the literature and materials you want to provide – ensure you have adequate amount and
breadth to cover your topic.
Once you have a fairly good handle on all details of your plan, develop your cost estimates for the
entire event. Are there fees for the facility, entertainment, food/beverages, licensing requirements,
advertisements and promotional, printing/distribution, etc. Knowing this helps you plan your budget
and your in-kind requests, ensuring that you will actually be able to pull your event off.
Promote, promote, promote! Utilize the NAMI Media toolkit to promote your event
(www.nami.org/publicrelations101) and plan a media strategy. In planning consider, who is going to
come to the event? Where will attendance be drawn from? Does the event compliment or conflict
with other events? Your awareness event is effectual if people actually know about it. Be creative and
utilize everyone. Consider local celebrities or officials to invite. Even those who say know, have been
educated more about mental health from your pitch than before. And they might not say “no” next
time! A caution is to be thoughtful of numbers at the outset and carefully plan to accommodate the
actually number you think you can get to attend. Be creative and thoughtful in how you attract
attendees. Food is always a good idea. But also consider the timing of your event during the
day/week, the length of event and the location.
Maximize your exposure: Take photos at your event, or donation process and send along with a short
summary to your local newspaper for print. Include in your local newsletter or e-newsletter.
**No matter what activity you decide to host, make sure you involve members from your target community in
order to ensure that your plans are relevant, responsive to the community’s needs and as culturally
meaningful as possible.
Opportunities for an Event:
*Google, or web search, these events while planning as many have support or sponsoring sites (such as NAMI)
that will provide templates, logos, resources and support in creating your event.*
National Mental Health Awareness Month: May
National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day: May 3
National Healthcare Decisions Day: April 16
National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month: July
National Suicide Prevention Awareness Week: first full week of September
National Mental Health Awareness Week: first full week of October
Suicide Survivor’s Day: Saturday before Thanksgiving