In an effort to destigmatize mental illness and spark conversations, the UWT library has partnered with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)’s student chapter to create the display Let’s Talk About It: Mental Health and UWT. 

NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. They are dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness, advocating for effective prevention, diagnosis, treatment, support, research, and recovery. The student organization NAMI On Campus works closely with NAMI Pierce County to ensure that those in the UWT community living with mental illness know that they are heard and supported. In 2020, NAMI On Campus was the recipient of a MLK Organization Dream Award for their contributions to the community in areas of diversity, equity, and civic engagement. (Learn more about NAMI On Campus here, NAMI Pierce County here, and the Dream Award here.)

Let’s Talk About It: Mental Health and UWT aims to provide informational resources for those living with mental illness and for those who are interested in learning more about mental health. We have collected and conveniently displayed the relevant pamphlets and brochures available from NAMI, UWT Veteran and Military Resource Center, UWT Disability Resources for Students, and UWT Counseling and Psychological Services for students to grab and take. Featured books and essays from the library’s collection are also interspersed throughout the display to provide additional information about living with mental illness, therapy, and recovery.

The physical exhibit can be found at the Snoqualmie (SNO) and Tioga Library Building (TLB) display cases. More information on mental health as well as stories about others’ personal experiences can be found at the complementary digital guide https://guides.lib.uw.edu/letstalkaboutit. This Winter Quarter exhibit is currently up and will run to mid-March.

If you are interested in sharing about your personal experience with mental illness and would like your story to be read and heard by others, we (NAMI On Campus and the UWT Library) warmly invite you to submit your story to us. It will be featured in our digital guide, under “UWT Community Stories.” You can choose to stay anonymous or include only your first name–whatever you are comfortable with. Stories can be submitted to vtran35@uw.edu. 

We hope you get a chance to visit and see the mental health resources we have available at the library and throughout campus!