The fundamentals of caring for you, your family and your child with an emotional disability
Is NAMI Basics for you?
Has your child or teenager been diagnosed with ADHD,
depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder or other mental health concern? Is your child or teenager having trouble in school and you feel that something is wrong, but you are just not sure what it is or how you can help? We understand because we have been there too. NAMI Basics is a free, interactive 6 session class for parents and primary caregivers who provide care for young people who are experiencing mental health symptoms. |
Más información acerca de NAMI Bases en Español aquí
NAMI Basics Virtual Class
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Program highlights include:
- Solving problems and communicating effectively
- How to take care of yourself and handle stress
- Accepting that mental health conditions are no one's fault
- Developing the confidence and stamina to support your child with compassion
- Advocating for your child's rights at school and in health care settings
- Learning about different types of mental health care professionals, available treatment options and therapies
- Preparing for and responding to crisis
- Gaining an overview of the public mental health care, school and juvenile justice systems
- Understanding the challenges and impact of mental health conditions on your entire family
- Brain biology and getting a diagnosis
- Available free of charge to participants
- Delivered in a series of weekly consecutive classes to accommodate the time constraints faced by families of children and adolescents
- Taught by trained teachers who are also parents or other family caregivers to a person who experienced symptoms of a mental health condition before the age of 13
- Participants are given a manual full of helpful resources
- NAMI Basics does not recommend or endorse any medications or other medical therapies
- NAMI Basics is copyrighted
What are people saying about NAMI Basics?
- “I wish this course was available when my child was first experiencing difficulty. ”
- “This program rescues parents and children and may improve the school system, mental health (public and private) system and the juvenile justice system as parents are empowered with information and confidence.”
- “This class was unexpectedly wonderful! I did not expect to learn so very, very much! It covers so much more than basics that the title doesn’t do it justice.”
- “This is such a great step by step program that walks parents every step of the way. It is as if you are holding their hand through it all.”
Why You Should Attend
A toolkit of information
- Up-to-date information on a range of mental health conditions and their impact on the developing brain.
- Current research on treatments including evidence-based therapies, medications and side effects.
- Preparation for interactions with the mental health care system, school system and juvenile justice system.
Training in preparedness and emotional resiliency
- Skills related to managing crises, solving problems and communicating effectively.
- Strategies for self-care and for navigating the challenges presented by mental illness for each family member.
- Empowerment as an effective advocate for your child.
- Confidence and stamina for life-long understanding and support.
A community
Perhaps most importantly, as a participant you can gain comfort in knowing you are not alone. Recovery is a journey and there is hope for all families and individuals mental health conditions. The in-person group experience of NAMI Basics provides the opportunity for mutual support and positive impact. You can experience compassion and reinforcement from people who relate to your experiences. Through your participation, you have the opportunity to help others grow.
Perhaps most importantly, as a participant you can gain comfort in knowing you are not alone. Recovery is a journey and there is hope for all families and individuals mental health conditions. The in-person group experience of NAMI Basics provides the opportunity for mutual support and positive impact. You can experience compassion and reinforcement from people who relate to your experiences. Through your participation, you have the opportunity to help others grow.
Helpful Information Until You Join a Class
Ask the Doctor NAMI’s Medical Director, Dr. Ken Duckworth, answers a few of the most commonly asked questions by parents and other caregivers of children and adolescents with mental illness. View the video's!
Ask the Doctor NAMI’s Medical Director, Dr. Ken Duckworth, answers a few of the most commonly asked questions by parents and other caregivers of children and adolescents with mental illness. View the video's!
Kids in the House: the Ultimate Parenting Resource
Search and learn from over 8,000 videos from top experts and parents, include NAMI's Medical Director, Dr. Ken Duckworth.
NAMI Child and Adolescent Center (CAAC): Information for Parents and Other Caregivers
Search and learn from over 8,000 videos from top experts and parents, include NAMI's Medical Director, Dr. Ken Duckworth.
NAMI Child and Adolescent Center (CAAC): Information for Parents and Other Caregivers
As an alternative, this class is also offered as a self-paced, online course called NAMI Basics OnDemand
NAMI Basics On Demand
NAMI Basics OnDemand is a free, six-session online education program for parents, caregivers and other family who provide care for youth aged 22 or younger who are experiencing mental health symptoms. NAMI Basics OnDemand is an adaptation of the in-person course offered in 43 states by NAMI affiliates.
