Close

NAMI Basics Education Program

nami_basics2 (1)

The fundamentals of caring for you, your family and your child with mental illness.

“Understanding Mental Illness in Children” created by NAMI Minnesota and Twin Cities Public Television.

What is NAMI Basics?

NAMI Basics is the new signature education program for parents and other caregivers of children and adolescents living with mental illnesses.  The NAMI Basics course is taught by trained teachers who are the parent or other caregivers of individuals who developed the symptoms of mental illness prior to the age of 13 years.

The course consists of six classes, each lasting for 2 ½ hours.   Classes may be offered weekly for six consecutive weeks, or may be offered twice per week for three weeks to accommodate the hectic schedules of parents.  All instruction materials are FREE to participants.

What are the goals of the NAMI Basics program?

  1. To give the parent/caregiver the basic information necessary to take the best care possible of their child, their family, and themself.
  2. To help the parent/caregiver cope with the impact that mental illness has on the child living with the illness and the entire family.
  3. To provide tools for the parent/caregiver to use even after completing the program that will assist in making the best decisions possible for the care of the child.

What does the course include?

  • Introduction to the stages of emotional reactions of the family to the of mental illness; including crisis, shock, denial, grief and acceptance.
  • Insights into understanding of the lived experience of the child living with the mental illness, including learning to separate the child you love from the illness that alters their behavior and abilities
  • Current information about Attention Deficit Disorder, Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Childhood Schizophrenia and Substance Abuse Disorders
  • Current research related to the biology of mental illness and the evidence-based, most effective treatment strategies available, including medications used to treat mental illness in children and adolescents
  • Specific workshops to learn problem solving, listening and communication skills
  • Examples of strategies that have been found helpful in handling challenging behaviors in children and adolescents
  • Information about the systems that are major players in the lives of children and adolescents with mental illness – the school system and the mental health system
  • Exposure to personal record keeping systems that have proven to be effective for parents/caregivers in their interactions with the school and healthcare systems
  • Information on planning for crisis management and relapse
  • Information on locating appropriate supports and services within the community to build a community of support for the parent/caregiver
  • Information on advocacy initiatives designed to improve and expand services, with an emphasis on personal advocates for the parent/caregiver and child on an individual level

A pdf copy of the NAMI Basics  Education program brochure is available for download.

How can I find a class in my area?

To find out where the NAMI Basics Education program is currently being offered in Michigan, please contact the NAMI Michigan main office in Lansing at 517-485-4049 or send an email to . You can also fill out a request to have someone from NAMI Michigan reach out to you on our Contact NAMI page.

You can also review a listing of all of the NAMI Michigan affiliates maintained at the national NAMI site.