“Move Your Mind”: The Hearing Voices Simulation Session 1

Event Description

The Hearing Voices Simulation is an empathy-building experience from Mindspring Mental Health Alliance that helps participants understand the challenges and strengths of people who experience psychosis or schizophrenia.

Participants will listen to distressing voices in a simulated experience while completing a series of tasks, such as taking a mental status exam in a mock emergency room. Participants will be led through a discussion before and after the simulation to offer opportunities to learn and reflect.

For an example of the simulation experience, feel free to check out this video:

Participants must be 18 to participate and will be required to sign a consent form. We ask that individuals who hear voices do not participate in this simulation.

Mindspring Mental Health Alliance

Mindspring Mental Health Alliance is a non-profit organization located in Des Moines, Iowa. The organization was started as a complete volunteer effort in 2003 and run that way until 2016 when we hired our first-ever paid staff. At the start of the pandemic, the agency acted quickly to adapt to continue to provide mental health education, advocacy, and support for people in a safe and effective way. As a result, the organization grew in many ways, including expanding its reach not just through Iowa but across the world. As part of this growth, the organization saw it fit to make some changes to best meet the mental health needs worldwide and officially became Mindspring Mental Health Alliance in March of 2021. The heart and purpose of the organization have never changed and we continue to empower community members through mental health education, support, and advocacy.

For questions about the simulation or Mindspring Mental Health Alliance, please contact Alex [email protected].

Host or Publisher Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Commission