Program Information
MINDS Program Information
MINDS conducts seminars that last approximately 1 - 1½ hours. These seminars are usually held in Health class, which is required in the state of Michigan.
The MINDS curriculum includes a hands-on look at a model brain, discussion of the symptoms of mental illnesses, and interactive activities that allow students to participate actively during the seminars.
MINDS Schools
- Abbott Middle School
- Academy of Lathrup Village
- Academy of Oak Park
- ACE Rochester
- Allen Park High School
- Andover High School
- Ann Arbor Open
- Athens High School
- Atherton High School
- Avondale High School
- Bates Academy
- Bay City Central High School
- Bay City Western High School
- Beecher Adult Career Education
- Berkley High School
- Berkshire Middle School
- Birch Run High School
- Birmingham Alternative High School
- Birmingham Covington School
- Birney Middle School
- Blanchette Middle School
- Boynton Middle School
- Brace-Lederle K-8
- Brandon Middle School
- Brighton High School
- Career Prep Center
- Carman Ainsworth High School
- Carman Ainsworth Junior High School
- Cass Technical High School
- Center Line High School
- Central Middle School (Midland)
- Chippewa Valley High School
- Clague Middle School
- Clarkston High School
- Clarkston Middle School
- Clawson High School
- Cleveland Middle School
- Clio Alternative Education
- Clio Area High School
- Colon High School
- Columbus Middle School
- Colon Middle School
- Community High School
- Constantine High School
- Corunna High School
- Dakota High School
- Davison High School
- Derby Middle School
- Detroit Northern High School
- Detroit Southwestern High School
- DeWitt High School
- Dove Academy of Detroit
- Durand Area High School
- E.A. Johnson High School
- Emerson Middle School
- Farwell High School
- Fitzgerald High School
- Flint Central High School
- Flint Southwestern High School
- Forsythe Middle School
- Fraser High School
- Frost Curriculum Center
- Genesee Junior & Senior High School
- George R Carter Middle School
- Glenn W. Levey Middle School
- Goodrich High School
- Grosse Ile High School
- Grosse Ile Middle School
- Grosse Pointe Community School
- Grosse Pointe North High School
- Grosse Pointe South High School
- Groves High School
- Gull Lake High School
- Hamady Middle School
- Hartland High School
- Highland Middle School
- Holmes Middle School
- Huron High School
- Hutchins Middle School
- Jefferson Middle School - Midland
- Jefferson Middle School - Pontiac
- Jefferson Middle School - St. Clair Shores
- John F Kennedy High School
- Kalamazoo Central High School
- Kelly Middle School
- Kimball High School
- King High School
- L'Anse Creuse Middle School
- L'Anse Creuse Middle School Central
- Lahser High School
- Laingsburg Middle School
- Lakeland High School
- Lakeshore High School
- Lakeview High School
- Lamphere High School
- Legg Middle School
- Lewis Cass Technical High School
- Life Skills Center of Detroit
- Lincoln Middle School
- Linden Middle School
- Livonia High School
- Madison Middle School
- Marshall Greene Middle School
- Marshall High School
- Marshall Middle School
- McMichael Technological Academy
- Milford High School
- Morrice Jr Sr High School
- Mt. Morris Junior High School
- Northeast Middle School - Midland
- North Lake High School
- Northville High School
- Northwestern High School
- Norup Middle School
- Oak Park High School
- Orchard Lake Middle School
- Oxford High School
- Pioneer High School
- Pontiac Central High School
- Pontiac Northern High School
- Portage Central High School
- Portage Northern High School
- Port Huron Northern High School
- Riley Middle School
- Rochester Adams High School
- Rochester Adult Education
- Roosevelt Middle School
- Saginaw Valley State University
- Sarah Banks Middle School
- Scarlett Middle School
- Scott High School
- Seaholm High School
- Sherrard Elementary / Middle School
- Simpson Middle School
- Slauson Middle School
- South Lake High School
- South Lake Middle School
- South Lyon High School
- Spring Lake Public Schools
- Stewart Learning Academy
- Stone High School
- Stoney Creek High School
- Strong Middle School
- Swartz Creek Middle School
- Tappan Middle School
- Thompson Middle School
- Vestaburg High School
- Walled Lake Alternative
- Walled Lake Central High School
- Walled Lake Northern High School
- Walled Lake Western High School
- Warren High School
- Warren Woods Tower High School
- Washington Middle School
- Waterford Mott High School
- West Bloomfield High School
- Winston Churchill High School
Testimonials
"Yesterday another student came to me and said "PLEASE tell the people who came to our school with this presentation that they saved a life.. It's mine." The student went home after school the day of the presentation to talk to her mom and step dad about what she heard and learned. She has complained a lot this past school year about her feelings of sadness all the time. At this point, she came to the conclusion she didn't want to live anymore. She expressed that to her mom and step dad and they decided to take her to Havenwick the following day. That is why she had the chance to see me and tell me her story. Mom and step dad felt she would be ok to attend one of her last days of school before heading over to the hospital. She looked and seemed relieved with the outcome and was ready to accept help. Thanks to MINDS organization this young lady hopefully has been saved! I can't thank you enough for all that you do. I hope this never ends. The education everyone receives because of your organization is priceless.-An counselor at L'Anse Creuse Middle School South
"A student came into class very sleepy one morning and spoke to me privately; He stated that he had been at the hospital all night until 4:00 in the morning with his best friend. I commented that I hoped that everything had turned out well and that his friend was alright. The student shared with me that the previous evening, his friend had text messaged him telling him that he loved him and that he was a great friend to him. This was an unusual statement between the two friends and it alarmed my student. As a result of the teachings of MINDS and their visit to the classroom during the Health class, my student felt alarmed and called the boy’s parent, who was at home. The parent went upstairs and discovered her son and several prescription drug bottles; He had taken large doses of mixed prescription medication. She called 911 and the boy was rushed to the emergency room where he was treated for a drug overdose and survived his attempted suicide. I asked my student how he knew what to do and he stated that because of what he had learned in Health class and the MINDS presentation, he knew he had to act."
-An Oakland County Schools Health Teacher
"I am very grateful that MINDS exists and provides such a valuable service to Oakland County. We are very lucky to have such a wonderful resource available to our schools. Thank you for adding to the professional growth of our educational community in Oakland County."
- Diane Waggoner, Health Education Consultant, Oakland Schools
- Carolyn Miranda, Student Assitance Coordinator, SADD Advisor, Northville High School "We can't thank you enough for coming out to Flat Rock Schools to educate us about mental health. The MINDS Program is such a helpful eye opener to students (and adults as well). The students are still talking about your visit here. And there were about 8 who personally came to me with their experiences with depression and I am so happy they were able to identify it and seek help. Thank you to MINDS and the good work you all do to promote good mental health in our youth culture. Know that your efforts and personal sharing makes a difference in people's lives."
- Nancy Crysler, Counselor, Flat Rock High School
"Thank you so much!! You truly opened my eyes. I go out and drink and try drugs but now I am seriously wanting NO MORE. I have had friends die and I want no more! Thank you again!"
- 15 year old student
"Thank you for taking the time to come to Fraser and present. I really appreciate your efforts, hard work, and energy that was clearly displayed during all of your presentations."
- Stacie Giroux, Family and Consumer Science Teacher, Fraser High School
"During the presentation you showed us that we have nothing to be scared about when it comes to mental illness. Also that having a mental illness is nothing to be ashamed about. We really appreciate how open you were with us and how you broke things down to where we could understand it. Your presentation was very impressive; I loved how bubbly you were. Our whole class loved you! This presentation really taught me how to deal with my depression and my ocd. And that I shouldn't be ashamed about having a 'mental illness'. At first I was scared because everyone thought I was lying, but when you talked to my counselor you changed everything for me. You really helped me. Also you helped me open up to my parents and now I feel like they actually listen to me. I can't say thank you enough. Not only do I believe you should come back to Fraser but I think you should go to schools all over because I know you can help someone else like you helped me. Thank you!"
- Student at Fraser High School
"Keep up the good work. I know kids just like me were totally fascinated by the presentation."
- Alyssa, Seaholm High School
I want you to know that [your presentation] at Central High School made a student realize that she needed help. She talked to her mother, who got her the help. The student was at White Pines for about 2 weeks. When she came back, I asked her, "Did [the presentation] make the difference?" She said, "Yes." This semester, I see her in the halls and I ask, "Are you alright!" She smiles and says, "Yes"."
- Mary Yeomans, Bay City Central High School
"I liked the program a lot. I have a lot of mental illness that I've gotten treatment for, and this helps people know that everyone with a problem isn't crazy".
- 15 year old student
"MINDS uses a highly engaging format to inform young people about mental illness and reduce the stigmatizing attitudes that lurk as obstacles to effective treatment. The program content is completely up-to-date and the presentations are easily disseminated within community schools. Furthermore, the extent of MINDS' commitment to accountability, continual program improvement, and the evaluation of outcomes is impressive! I enthusiastically recommend the MINDS Programs."
- Cheryl King, Ph.D., Chief Psychologist, Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, The University of Michigan
"My Brother has ADD, and I used to think he just wasn't trying. Now I know it is not his fault, and I will help him remember to take his medicine".
- 14 year old student
"I found this presentation interesting because I have been diagnosed with some of these mental disorder and have went through cutting myself and trying suicide and my parents and I have been through a lot the past year and it helps me know I'm not alone in this big world."
- 15 year old student
"Programs like yours appear to hold a wonderful potential for preventing untold pain and suffering from untreated mental illness and suicidal behavior... Thanks for dedicating your professional (and I suspect personal) life to improving the health of our American community".
- Colonel David Litts, Special Advisor to the U.S. Surgeon General For Suicide Prevention
"I have personally encouraged several other school districts to consider the MINDS Program. We owe it to our young people to give them accurate information and a sense of hope. Ms. Irish does this better than anyone I have seen".
- Gary Doyle, Superintendent Bloomfield Hills, MI. School District
"Thank you for teaching the class that I am not a freak".
- 15 year old student
"I am a high school classroom teacher, and I see kids open up and discuss things that they would normally not feel comfortable discussing. The atmosphere is amazing, and such a great experience to watch your class come together as a whole and be able to relate to each other..
Your presenter was phenonmenal! She had one of my difficult classes in tears. It takes a special person to be able to do what she did. Thanks again for having such a great program and such great presenters. You are making a difference, keep up the good work, thank you!"
- Stacie Giroux, Life Skills Teacher, Fraser High School, Fraser, Michigan
"The MINDS Program should be heard by every Health class in the country"
- Kathy Abbott, Health Educator
"The MINDS program uses a unique combination of education, testimonial, and interactive discussion to teach high school students about mental illness. The program effectively confronts commonly-held stigmatizing beliefs and students learn key symptoms of common mental disorders, as well as where to get help. The MINDS program is the most effective school-based psychoeducational intervention I have encoutered during my past four years of research in the area of mental illness stigma."
- Stephanie Riolo, M.D., M.P.H., Director of Community & Consultation Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Section, Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan
"Helping middle school students to overcome the myths and stereotypes surrounding mental disorders is difficult. Much of the material available is too clinical and/or sophisticated for this age group. The negative stigma attached to mental illness further increases the challenge.
My students have consistently responded positively to the MINDS presentations, their interest is evident by their focus and attentiveness. Your organization helps them to recognize that not only is mental illness treatable, but also occurs in "normal" people, helping to erase the negative connotations so often perpetuated by the media. Your presentations also help to ease the shame and/or embarrassment so often associated with mental illness, a factor that is so very important for this age group."
- Doris Sprentall, Health Educator, Slauson Middle School
"Your message is making a positive impact".
- Sue Kaleta, 25 year High School Health Teacher
"[This presentation] made me realize that people with mental illnesses are not crazy monsters out to kill, they are human beings."
- 14 year old student