NAMI Basics is a 6-session family education course developed by NAMI for parents or caregivers who have children diagnosed with a severe mental illness (SMI) or severe emotional disturbance (SED). Each session lasts for 2.5 hours. The classes or sessions may be offered as a course that meets weekly or may be offered 2 times a week for 3 weeks, if that will work better.

The goals of NAMI Basics are:

To help parents and caregivers cope with the impact that mental illness has, not just on the child living with a mental illness or severe emotional disturbance, but also how it affects the family unit. Everyone in the family is affected in some way when a child has or is diagnosed with an SED or SMI. To provide tools that the family or caregivers can use after the program is completed that will help them make better decisions. To give much needed basic information so that families are able to find high quality, informed care for the child with the severe emotional disturbance, their caregivers and their siblings.

The NAMI Basics sessions include:

Current information about major mental illnesses that occur in children, such as Attention Deficit Disorder, Major Depression, Childhood Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Substance Use Disorders: Introduction to and assistance with dealing with the trauma that often comes with a diagnosis. This trauma can send a family and the affected child into a grief and loss cycle that can cause further trauma. Learning how to view a child as more than his or her illness, which can cause radical shifts in the child's behavior and mood. Information on effective treatment interventions, including medications and evidence based treatments. Crisis and relapse planning. How to keep effective records. Keeping records is crucial in helping the child and family get the treatment and care they need. Ways others have found to de-escalate challenging behaviors. Building support for a family so that they’re better able to cope when something goes wrong. And more.

NAMI Basics is designed to help the whole family get a better quality of life. For more information about finding a NAMI Basics class near you, contact the NAMI Michigan office 1-800-331-4264.

NAMI Michigan partnered with the Association for Children’s Mental Health (ACMH) to bring the NAMI Basics program into Michigan.