NAMI Ending the Silence – Families

Our Ending the Silence education programs were created here at the DuPage County, Illinois affiliate to provide mental health educational presentations to students, parents and school staff. Since its inception in 2007, it has since been recognized and adopted by NAMI National, and is now presented by NAMI affiliates across the country. Our family version of this program includes a 1-hour presentation for adults with middle or high school aged youth that includes warning signs, facts and statistics, how to talk with your child, and how to work with school staff.

For more information about our Ending the Silence programs, or to schedule a presentation, visit our Youth Services page.

NAMI Family & Friends Seminar

NAMI Family & Friends is a FREE seminar that informs people who have loved ones living with a mental health condition on how to best support them. Whether you choose the 90 minute, 2 hour or 4 hour version, you will benefit from the opportunity to meet other people in similar situations and gain community support.

The seminar is led by those with lived experience of supporting a family member living with a mental health condition, and will guide you through the following topics:

For questions about this seminar, please contact Jessica Schneider at [email protected], or by phone at 630-752-0066.

NAMI Provider

More than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness and for many, healthcare interactions can be negative or even traumatic. NAMI Provider is our evidence-based, dedicated program to help change that.

This staff development program is for healthcare providers, administrative staff, operational staff and students working directly with people affected by mental illness. It’s an experience that equips participants with a deeper understanding of mental illness and the confidence to serve individuals and families in a collaborative manner.

For more information or to schedule a presentation, please contact Jessica Schneider, Director of Community Education, at 630-752-0066 x207 or [email protected].

Recovery is a journey and there is hope for all people affected by mental health conditions. This program provides the opportunity for mutual support and shared positive impact. You will experience compassion and reinforcement from people who relate to your experiences. Through your participation, you have the chance to help others grow.

NAMI Homefront teaches you:

• Strategies to care for yourself, including managing your stress
• How to support your family member with compassion
• Ways to identify and access federal, state and local services
• Where to find information about the latest research and information on mental health, including posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, anxiety, depression and substance use
• Current treatments and evidence-based therapies
• Tactics to navigate the challenges and impact of mental health conditions on the entire family
• Crisis management, problem solving and effective communication

NAMI Basics OnDemand

NAMI Basics OnDemand is a free, six-session online education program for parents, caregivers and other family who provide care for youth (aged 22 and under) who are living with mental health symptoms. Diagnoses discussed in the class include: childhood onset of bipolar disorder, childhood onset of schizophrenia, depression, ADD, ADHD, anxiety disorders, OCD and eating disorders. Trained family members, who have firsthand experience with the rewards and challenges of raising children with mental illnesses, volunteer to teach Basics.

NOTE: If you are registering more than one person, please include all participant names.