NAMI Basics class offered

NAMI Barrington Area, an area chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, will be offering its well-regarded class, NAMI Basics, beginning in March. NAMI Basics is a six week education program for parents and other caregivers of children and adolescents living with mental illness. Classes will be held on Thursday evenings from 6:30-9 p.m. in Arlington Heights.

The classes will cover 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.

The class uses a curriculum developed by the professional staff at NAMI’s national offices, and it is taught by volunteers who have successfully completed NAMI’s teacher training program and who have a family member with mental illness themselves. Recent studies have shown the class to be effective in helping families cope with the mental illness of their family member.

Topics include current research in the biology of brain disorders and the evidence-based, most effective treatment strategies available, including medications used to treat mental illness in children and adolescents, as well as strategies for handling crisis and relapse.

There will be special workshops in problem solving, listening and communication techniques, as well as exposure to personal record keeping systems that have proved to be effective for parents/caregivers in their interactions with the school and health care system. Participants will be given information on locating appropriate supports and services within the community to build a community of support for the parent/caregiver.

All are invited to attend. There is no cost to participate in this NAMI Basics education program, but registration is necessary as class size is limited.

For more information about this class as well as other classes and support groups offered in the area, call Maryrose, at (847) 496-1415 or visit the NAMI Barrington Area website, namibarringtonarea.org.