The Bandana Project

A program designed to spread awareness of resources for those with a mental illness or struggling with a mental health crisis on the UW-Madison campus.

The Purpose: The Bandana Project is a program designed to spread awareness of resources for those with mental illness. The lime green bandanas, to be distributed across campus, are attached to students’ backpacks. This indicates that they are a safe individual to approach with mental health-related issues, that they know where resources are, and that they hold a few resource cards (provided by the UWPD) with outlets to get help and support in times of crisis such as UHS, NAMI-UW, and National Crisis Lines.

Not only does the program give tangible resourcefulness to an individual, but provides invaluable unspoken support. If someone sees a lime green bandana on the backpack of a stranger, it is a sign of stigma-free, quiet solidarity. They will know that they are not alone in their struggle.

Interested in tracking our distribution?

We have distributed over 6,000 bandanas on the UW-Madison campus as of Fall-Semester 2018!

Background: There are more than 1,000 suicides on college campuses annually in the United States. Before graduation, 1 in 10 students will have considered suicide. Students aged 15-24 are in the highest risk group for a majority of mental illnesses, though 1 in 4 will not seek help or treatment. This trend must stop, and it starts with The Bandana Project. When students receive a bandana, we will give them 3-5 resource cards to always carry with them should they be approached.

Bring The Bandana Project to your student org, athletics team, lecture hall, or group!! Simply e-mail nami.wisco@gmail.com or message us on our facebook page and we will set up a time to visit your group.
A special thanks to the groups we have visited...
Hoofers Sailing, Cardiac on Campus, School of Nursing Class of 2017, Lakeshore Dorms, NAMI-UW, Psychology of Suicide Course, Introduction Chemistry and Physics classes, Ask.Listen.Save., School of Nursing Class of 2018, ASM Equity & Inclusivity Commitee, and WASB

Click to set custom HTML

University of Wisconsin Police (UWPD) & University Health Services (UHS)

UWPD and UHS have been instrumental in getting The Bandana Project started here at the University of Wisconsin-Madison through financial contributions, guidance, and support. We cannot thank them enough.

How do YOU become a supporter?

•Endorsement/Promotion within your campus department, student organization, social media sites, department newsletters, ect.
–Social Media kit available upon request –Article/Press Release available upon request
•Financial support
–With this project comes the financial need of purchasing bandanas. You may choose to purchase lime green bandanas for NAMI-UW through:
1) A cash/check/deposit donation to NAMI-UW at UW Credit Union
2) From our The Bandana Project AmazonWishlist:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/13UJIW9QGUVUJ/ref=cm_sw_su_w