National Alliance on Mental Illness
NAMI Basics Education

NAMI Basics Education Program

NAMI Basics is a 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 two and a half 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.

The goals of the NAMI Basics program include:

To give the parent/caregiver the basic information necessary to take the best care possible of their child, their family, and themself;

To help the parent/caregiver cope with the impact that mental illness has on the child living with the illness and the entire family;

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.

The NAMI Basics program includes:

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 to improve and expand services, with an emphasis on personal advocates for the parent/caregiver and child on an individual level.