Youth & NAMI Basics

And Resources for Children with Mental Health Symptoms and Their Parents and Caregivers

NAMI Basics is a free, 6-session education program for parents, guardians and other family who provide care for youth (age 22 or younger) who are experiencing mental health symptoms. NAMI Basics is offered in a group setting so you can connect with other people in person.

You'll learn the facts about mental health conditions and how best to support your child at home, at school and when they're getting medical care. Last year, 99% of participants told us they would recommend the program to other parents.

The course is taught by a trained team with lived experience—they know what you're going through because they've been there. The 6-session program provides strategies for taking care of your child and learning the ropes of recovery.

Since the start of the Online Format in October of 2019, over 6000 participants have enrolled in the course, as of 2/25/2020!!

What You’ll Gain

At NAMI Basics, you'll find out that you're not alone. Recovery is a journey, and there is hope. The group setting of NAMI Basics provides mutual support and shared positive impact—experience compassion and reinforcement from people who understand your situation. Your own experience may help others in the group.

NAMI Basics covers:

  • 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 and supporting resources to help you navigate these systems

  • Understanding the challenges and impact of mental health conditions on your entire family

What People Are Saying

"This is such a great step by step program that walks parents through every step of the way. It is as if you are holding their hand through it all."


"This class was unexpectedly wonderful! I did not expect to learn so very, very much! This program is well written with excellent segues between topics. It covers so much more than BASICS that the title doesn't do it justice."


"I wish this course was available when my child was first experiencing difficulty."


"I find it truly remarkable that this training is free to those who are interested."

NAMI Kids

What To Look For And When To Act


Finding Mental Health Care For Your Child

Getting Youth Child Mental Health Support And Accommodations In School

What To Do If Your Child Is In Crisis

How To Talk To Your Child About Their Mental Health

Residential Treatment

Indiana Youth System of Care

Communities coming together to support the mental wellness of young people in the interest of building resilience and hope for families.

  • Find you local service provider

  • Suicide prevention

  • School based initiatives

  • Children's Mental Health Wraparound

  • Trauma informed practices & resources

Indiana
Children's Mental Health.pdf

Children's Mental Health Guide for Parents

From One in 5 Minds. For more info on this children's mental health advocacy organization, click here: https://www.1in5minds.org/

Hopeful Futures Campaign

For LGBTQ+ Kids - Click HERE

Child Mind Institute

Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event

Info from the Child Mind Institute at childmind.org

Find Your Anchor

A grassroots movement aimed at suicide prevention, awareness and education. Little blue boxes of hope are built and sent out to be placed anywhere in the world in hopes of someone who is need will find them. Filled with inspiration, reasons to live and helpful resources.

The Bandana Project

The Bandana Project was founded on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus in January of 2016 with the help of a NAMI On Campus chapter. The Bandana Project is a simple yet innovative suicide prevention and mental health awareness movement. As an organization, they support chapters in creating community connections, bolstering resources and making positive changes in mental health promotion and suicide prevention.

Inspiring My Generation

Inspiring My Generation's Encouragement Card Program is designed to engage the community in providing notes of love, support, and encouragement to individuals hospitalized for mental health condition, with the goal that the individual receiving the card will find some comfort and motivation through their recovery.

Ring The Alarm

The Crisis of Black Youth Suicide In America

Emergency Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health

Mental Health America

Mental Health America

MHA’s 2021 Back to School toolkit, “Facing Fears, Supporting Students,” aims to help students, parents, and school personnel recognize how feeling unsafe can impact mental health and school performance, and what can be done to help young people who are struggling with their mental health.

Preventing Suicide: The Role of High School Teachers


Child Mind Institute

Child Mind Institute

The Child Mind Institute is an independent, national nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders.

Equity in Mental Health Framework

Recommendations for Colleges and Universities to Support the Emotional Well-Being and Mental Health of Students of Color.

Equity-in-Mental-Health-Framework-v17.pdf

Families for Depression Awareness

Teen Depression—Finding Resiliency and Solutions

Live Webinar has passed, register here for the OnDemand version


NAMI - Parents and Teachers as Allies Guide

Recognizing Early-onset Mental Illness in Children and Adolescents

Parents and Teachers as Allies Guide.pdf
Teen Depression NIH.pdf

Teen Depression Guide - NIH


Other Resources / New Articles / Research