HelpLine Information & Referral Specialists; Remote - INTERNSHIPS

Intern with the NAMI Help Line!

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Please note:

This is a listing for an unpaid internship position, and you must be currently enrolled in an academic program with an academic advisor to be eligible. If you are not a student, please apply using our volunteer application.

Use your lived experience navigating mental health challenges-personally or with a loved one-to support and empower others reaching out for help.

Provide support. NAMI Help Line interns answer tens of thousands of calls and texts each year from people looking for support for themselves or someone else navigating a mental health challenge. Interns provide hope, emotional support, thoughtful suggestions, and mental health resources to empower people to reach the next step on their or their loved one's mental health journey.

Help your peers.

Some interns may qualify for and wish to participate in one of Help Line's specialty services:

• NAMI Teen & Young Adult (TYA) Help Line: interns who are young adults (20-30 years old) are welcome to participate
• NAMI Family Caregiver Help Line: interns with lived experience caring for a loved one with serious mental illness are welcome to participate
• linea de ayuda de NAMI: interns who can speak and write fluent Spanish are welcome to participate

If you are interested in participating in one or more of these specialty services as part of your Help Line intern experience, please let us know when you fill out your application.

Skills. Interns receive in-depth training and support from Help Line Staff including ongoing coaching to develop skills like:

• Reflective listening
• Empathy
• Creative problem solving
• Critical thinking
• Flexibility and patience

Knowledge. Interns get a deep understanding of the mental health landscape, including:

• Common mental health conditions
• Treatment and recovery strategies
• How to overcome barriers to accessing mental health care
• What quality mental health resources are available

Reward. Help Line interns have the satisfaction of knowing that they are helping people with mental health conditions and their family members problem-solve during a hard time in their lives.

8 hours a week for 4 months. Help Line interns agree to serve at least two, 4-hour shifts every week for at least 4 months.

NAMI Help Line is open Monday - Friday 10 a.m.

-10 p.m. ET, not including federal holidays.

To help us get you scheduled, you must provide at least three days and times that you would be consistently available to serve on Help Line during the following shifts:

• Shift #1: 10am - 2pm ET
• Shift #2: 2 - 6pm ET
• Shift #3: 6 - 10pm ET

Interns must also attend a 10-15-minute shift change meeting on Zoom each week that will help you get up to date on anything new and allow you time to talk with other interns and staff.

21-hour independent, online training, plus a 1-hour technology set-up and role-play training with a Help Line Staff member on Zoom. NAMI Help Line offers a comprehensive 21-hour online training on mental health conditions, support and recovery strategies, NAMI programs and advocacy efforts, how to manage calls and texts from people looking for help, Help Line policies and practices, and a final test.

The training also includes a 1-hour technology setup and role play session with a NAMI Help Line staff member.

You must start online training within 2 weeks of receiving the email that you have been enrolled. Once you have started your training, you have 3 weeks to finish it.

Your 4-month service commitment begins on the day of your first scheduled Help Line shift, which is scheduled after you've completed the training.

Help Line interns are always supported. Help Line staff monitor the Help Line at all times and provide real-time support to interns navigating complex or challenging connections.

Although NAMI Help Line is not a crisis line, Help Line interns may receive calls or texts involving a mental health crisis or other challenging situations. Help Line interns are trained in important risk management practices and will always receive guidance from Help Line staff on crisis or risk-related Help Line connections.

Every Help Line intern is also paired with a Help Line Coach - a Help Line staff member responsible for providing support and feedback to strengthen your knowledge and skillset. Monthly wellness and continuing education events are also offered to all Help Line interns.

Work remotely using your own computer. All Help Line interns work remotely from their homes and connect with Help Seekers using NAMI's online communications platform. Help Line interns will also receive support from Help Line Staff through the instant messaging platform, Slack.

You are required to have:

• A private workspace
• A computer with the most recent operating system (MacOS, Windows, or Linux)
• A working headset or headphones
• A robust, reliable high-speed internet service

All Help Line interns respond to Help Line…