+ slide 1 Approx. 5 min Core Concepts Introduction and goal Caution about readiness to share story; if you’ve experienced profound loss Affirm participant readiness to begin training Pre-training evaluation form This is NAMI Smarts: Telling Your Story, the foundation module in NAMI’s grassroots advocacy training series. We'll talk about why advocacy for mental health care is so important and the power of your story to influence others. Then, we'll guide you through writing your own powerful story in seven short steps. When you leave this training, our goal is that you take with you a version of your story that you can use to raise awareness, to inspire others and, above all, to influence policy makers. My name is [insert name] and I will be your teacher today. And helping us today is [insert name]. If you need help during this training, please let [Helper’s name] know. Before we begin, I’d like to caution you that you will be writing about and sharing your story in this training. If that is something you don’t feel quite ready to do or if you find that your story is triggering grief or overwhelming you, please let our Helper know. He/she will assist you. We hope you’re excited about this training. Are you ready to join us? [Wait for a response, if appropriate.] Great, we’ll get started. To begin, please take out your pre- and post-training evaluation form and spend half a minute filling out the first column for question one and two only. You will fill out the rest of the evaluation form at the end of the training. [Give your participants less than a minute to fill out the first two questions.] Prep: Have workshop materials ready at seats. A folder is helpful. Worksheet: Pre- and Post-Training Evaluation Start the workshop on time. Helper or Teacher: Help participants get seated Advance PowerPoint slides Help participants find evaluation form and fill in column for question 1 and 2 slide 2 Approx. .5 min Total time: 5.5 min Most of you have probably been in trainings or workshops before. And you may realize that trainings don’t always translate into doing things differently.
Real stories is one of the best ways to promote support for mental health care Your story is always right Your lived experience has value and meaning You don’t have to have all the answers—just a clear “ask” of your listeners Your lived experience has value and meaning You don't have to have all the answers--just a clear "ask" of your listeners [Pause slightly after each of these concepts to let people process.] If you think about it, this is very empowering to realize. 16 Approx. .5 min Total time: 37.5 min Core Concept How you tell your can affect your impact However, our lived experiences are meaningful, how we tell our story can affect the impact we make. slide 17 Approx. .5 min Total time: 38 min Core Concepts Your audience does not want to hear your life story Your audience wants to be moved—and uplifted This brings us to the second part of our agenda. A few tips for telling your story... The first tip is that your audience does not want to hear your life story. Save those details for your therapist or a close friend. Your audience does, however, want to be moved—and uplifted. slide 18
slide 23 cont. Approx. 2 min time: 1 hr, 1 min Core Concept What will help others? Transitions from personal to others; makes story relevant to ask In the fifth step and sixth step, answer what is the need or problem and what will help others? In step five, transition to what others need or the problem they face. In step six, describe what will help or could help others. This should be what you want a policy maker to support (or to oppose). These steps take you from your personal story to a message that relates to other people—and makes your story relevant to a policy maker. Worksheets: Seven Steps Checklist and Sample Story Who would like to share the line that helped you sense the transition? [Pick a volunteer to the line they marked.] slide 23 cont. Approx. 4 min Total time: 1 hr, 5 min Core Concepts Make your “ask” Don’t take no or noncommittal response personally Follow up regularly to build the relationship What struck you the “ask?” How do you see it being helpful? In the seventh and last step, make your "ask." This is a critical step that many advocates hesitate or forget to do. Start by thanking your listener for meeting with you and listening to your story. Then, put them on the hook by asking if you can count on them to support (or oppose) your issue. If your listener answers with a clear “yes” or affirmative reply, thank them for their support. If your listener answers with a clear “no” or negative response or with an unclear or noncommittal response, thank them, again, for taking the time to meet with you and let them know you’d like to serve as a resource for them on mental health issues. Worksheets: Seven Steps Checklist and Sample Story