IN OUR OWN VOICE (LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS): EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF A CONSUMER-DELIVERED EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAM ON THE PUBLIC

Abstract

Psychoeducation programs can help correct misperceptions and offer hope about the ability of the mentally ill to recover. Consumer presentation programs, such as NAMI’s In Our Own Voice (IOOV), were designed in part for this purpose. The study used mixed methods to examine archival IOOV evaluations (n = 599) to understand: 1) viewers’ responses to the program in natural settings, 2) differences between consumer and nonconsumer viewers, and 3) the program’s ability to satisfy IOOV goals for audience members. Results indicate that the majority of viewers respond positively, with few differences between consumer and nonconsumer viewers. However, consumers more frequently reported personally relating to presenters while nonconsumers more frequently reported feeling educated by the program. Finally, IOOV is meeting its two program goals for audience members: edu-cating the public and offering a hopeful message of recovery. IOOV appears to be a valuable addition to recovery-oriented programming that is freely available to the public.