At City High, twins Julia and Maya Shannon have taken a significant step toward reducing the stigma surrounding mental health with the creation of the school’s NAMI on Campus club. Their goal is simple yet powerful: to provide a safe and supportive space for students to discuss mental health and connect with resources that can help.
“NAMI stands for National Alliance on Mental Illness,” Julia said. “It’s a nonprofit organization that works to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and advocates for better mental health care. NAMI on campus is a student-run initiative at high schools and colleges, and our goal is to bring awareness to mental health issues, offer resources, and connect students to the help they need.”
The idea for starting the club came from Julia and Maya’s own experiences growing up and seeing friends and classmates struggle with mental health challenges.
“We’ve both seen the impact mental health struggles can have on people, and we knew that there needed to be a space at City High where students could feel supported and accepted,” Maya said. “There’s still a lot of stigma around mental health, especially in high school, and we wanted to change that by creating a place where students can talk openly and find help.”
NAMI on Campus at City High is all about connecting students to mental health resources and building a supportive community.
“We want to make sure that students don’t feel alone in what they’re going through,” Maya said. “We’ve both faced our own challenges, and we know how important it is to have a support system. Our main goal is to make sure everyone knows that it’s okay to talk about mental health, and that there are resources and people here to help.”
To spread awareness and make a real impact, Maya and Julia have big plans for the club.
“We’ll be hosting fundraisers, organizing events, and bringing in guest speakers to educate students about mental health,” Julia shared. “We also plan to use social media to share useful websites and resources with students, so they have easy access to support.”
One of the most important aspects of NAMI on Campus is its weekly meetings.
“We’ll have regular meetings where students can come to share their experiences, offer support, and talk about mental health in a safe, non-judgmental space,” Julia explained. “After our weekly presentations, we’ll also have activities that help lighten the mood and give students a chance to unwind.”
Looking ahead, the twins have even more exciting plans.
“We want to host a Mental Health Experience Panel where students and guest speakers can share their stories and insights,” Maya said. “We also hope to collaborate with other clubs at City High and even get involved in community events outside of the school in Iowa City to expand our reach.”
The twins are also excited about the potential to collaborate with NAMI in Johnson County.
“Since NAMI is based here in Johnson County, we can team up with them for larger mental health awareness events,” Maya explained. “It’s a great opportunity to bring the message of mental health awareness beyond City High and into the larger Iowa City community.”
One of the most important aspects of the club is ensuring that students feel comfortable and included in discussions surrounding mental health.
“We’re always here to listen if anyone needs to talk about anything,” said Julia. “We also have support from counselors like Mary Peterson, who comes to our meetings. If a presentation is difficult for some students, we always have activities to help them debrief and process.”
Through NAMI on Campus, Maya and Julia hope to develop not only their leadership skills but also skills that will help them advocate for mental health awareness in the future.
“We want to help other students learn how to communicate about mental health and be strong advocates for mental health resources,” Maya said. “We also plan to connect with other clubs and be involved in leadership communications at City High.”
With their shared passion for mental health awareness and creating a supportive community, Julia and Maya Shannon are making a lasting impact at City High. Through their work with NAMI on Campus, they are helping students find the support and resources they need and are showing that no one has to face their mental health challenges alone.
