NAMI Basics

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

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.

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
• 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

Basics is planning on expanding statewide and is currently held in the following areas of the state:

Ogden/Weber

Salt Lake

Utah County

St. George

Wasatch/Summit

For more information on these classes contact NAMI Utah at 1 (801) 323-9900 or toll free 1 (877) 230-6264.

Helpful Links

Ask the Doctor: Information for Parents and other Caregivers

Record Keeping System for tracking your child's important information