NAMI Southwestern Illinois

NAMI Basics Written by an experienced family member mental health professional, NAMI Basics teaches the fundamentals of caring for you, your family and your child with mental illness. NAMI Basics is a 6 week series of classes that will cover ADHD, Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, Schizophrenia and Substance Abuse Disorders; coping skills such as handling crisis and relapse; basic information about medication use in the treatment of mental illness in children; listening and communication techniques; problem solving skills; and an overview of the mental health and school systems roles in treating children with mental illness.

NAMI Basics Course forming at this time

• A waiting list is forming for the next course!
• Call the NAMI Office to register: (618) 798-9788

Jane Roennigke, our Project Leader for NAMI Basics says "This course is a wonderful experience! It balances basic psycho-educational and skill training with emotional support, self-care and empowerment. We hope parents and caregivers of children and adolescents with mental illness take advantage of this unique opportunity."

For more information or to register for this class, please call the NAMI office at (618) 798-9788 or email: info@namiswi.org.

Find additional information at NAMI National:
more about NAMI Basics

Peer-to-Peer is a 9 week education course on the topic of recovery for any person with serious mental illness who is interested in establishing and maintaining wellness. The course uses a combination of lecture, interactive exercise and structured group processes. Along with the diversity of experience among course participants, this affords for a lively dynamic that moves the course along. Peer-to-Peer is taught by teams of three trained "mentors" or peer teachers, who are themselves experienced at living well with mental illness.

This 9 week course can make a difference in your life. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call the NAMI SWI office at (618) 798-9788 or email: info@namiswi.org.

Find additional information at NAMI National:
more about Peer to Peer

Family-to-Family is a 12-week family education program designed to foster learning, healing, and empowerment among family members and close friends of individuals with serious brain disorders (mental illnesses). These include major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, OCD, anxiety disorders and post traumatic stress disorder.

There is no cost for this course and is a must for any family member or close friend of a loved one who suffers from one of these severe and persistent illnesses. The course meets one time a week for 2 and ½ hours for 12 weeks. The course includes coping skills such as handling crisis and relapse; basic information about medications; listening and communication techniques; problem-solving skills; recovery and rehabilitation; and self-care.

The curriculum, written by Joyce Burland, Education Director of NAMI National, has been designated on two occasion since its inception in 1992 as a Best Practice Program following research through the University of Maryland and will be taught by NAMI Southwestern Illinois family member volunteers who have been trained as course instructors. The course is updated every year and contains the latest information on mental illness.

Family-to-Family Courses forming at this time:

• Beginning April 4, 2013 – in Edwardsville, Illinois.
  Meeting 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

For more information concerning Family-to-Family classes or to register, call:

• The NAMI SWI Office (618) 798-9788, email: info@namiswi.org
• OR
• Alice Adcock, NAMI SWI Family-to-Family Coordinator (618) 307-5132

Find additional information at NAMI National:
more about Family-to-Family