NAMI Basics: Mental Health Education for Parents and Family Caregivers of Youth
In moments that feel particularly difficult, NAMI hopes parents and family caregivers remember you’re not alone – and mental illness is no one’s fault.
When you take part in a NAMI Basics education series, you’ll engage with a community of support that knows what you’re going through. Explore options to enroll in NAMI Basics and learn about:
- Practical, up-to-date information about mental health challenges for youth
- How to effectively advocate for your child with school and mental health systems
- Problem solving and communication skills you’ll need to support your child
Which Format Is Right for You?
NAMI Basics
NAMI Basics is a free education series, led by certified instructors who are also parents who share similar life experiences with those attending the course participants. The course is offered either in-person or online. For more information on this instructor-led class, contact your state or local NAMI Affiliates.
NAMI Basics OnDemand
NAMI Basics OnDemand is modeled after the successful instructor-led NAMI Basics education series. NAMI Basics OnDemand is also free, but available in an self-paced online format – available 24/7 – which allows users to access course materials and resources on their own time. The program is designed to empower parents and caregivers of young people (ages 22 and younger) with the tools, knowledge, and support needed to navigate the challenges of youth mental health.
Please note: In some communities, NAMI Basics is also available in Spanish as Bases y Fundamentos de NAMI. Contact your local NAMI to learn more and locate the right course for you.
What You’ll Gain
By taking part in NAMI Basics or NAMI Basics OnDemand, you’ll find that you are not alone. Throughout this series, you’ll hear real-life experiences from parents and caregivers who have navigated these roads before.
With support and shared understanding, NAMI Basics helps family members learn that recovery is a journey – and there is hope.
NAMI Basics covers:
- The impact mental health conditions can have on your entire family
- Different types of mental health care professionals, available treatment options and therapies
- An overview of the public mental health care, school and juvenile justice systems, and resources to help you navigate these systems
- How to advocate for your child’s rights at school and in health care settings
- How to prepare for and respond to crisis situations (self-harm, suicide attempts, etc.)
- The importance of taking care of yourself
Additional Resources
Parents and Teachers as Allies: NAMI wrote this guide to help parents, teachers, and other adults involved with students identify the key warning signs of early-onset mental health conditions. United with the knowledge from this guide, adults supporting youth can help them find services and supports for evaluation. This guide holds strategies parents and teachers can employ to help students thrive. Together, parents and teachers form an indispensable alliance and offer a positive difference for every student’s future.