Mental Health Education Programs

Mental Health Awareness

We teach you how to empower yourself and your family members with positive mental health tools. Knowing where to start and taking the first steps are often the hardest hurdles.

Here, you can understand the signs of mental illness and the different conditions, be encouraged to get a diagnosis (if you don’t already have one) and know your treatment options (therapy, medication, self-care, etc.).

Mental Health Education

Early detection, treatment and recovery aren’t just for cancer patients. They are for us, too. Early detection is key to optimal treatment and recovery starts at home with people who know you, understand when you’re not feeling well and can support you.

At your pace, we’ll teach you how mental illness impacts the person affected and those around them, how to support your loved ones, effective communication strategies, self-care, crisis preparation, where to find resources and so much more.

Social Emotional Learning

The social-emotional skills you need and want to learn are possible. It is proven that you can learn to manage your emotions and behaviors, set and reach positive goals, become empathetic, create and keep positive relationships and make healthy decisions.

Just as much for you as your loved ones, enLIGHTenment means everyone is speaking the same language once and for all. In order to accomplish this goal, we teach proven education programs (evidence-based classes) designed for you and your family members.

We hold monthly seminars and weekly support groups.
We provide local resources.
Essentially, whatever we can do to support and educate you, we do it!

That’s because YOU ARE ESSENTIAL and we’ve got your back.

Our nationally developed, clinically proven education programs are offered at no cost to you thanks to the investment of our community partners and supporters. Time and time again, we hear from course graduates that the knowledge gained was life-changing. Other common outcomes from NAMI’s Signature Education programs:

A greater understanding of mental health conditions
Better coping skills
Ability to worry less
Empowered to advocate for better treatment and services

Because we can’t possibly know what someone hasn’t shared with us, we won’t pretend to know your specific journey. What we can offer you is that NAMI programs are an opportunity to learn from others who, too, have traveled a mental health journey.

Our trained instructors have a sheer passion for their work and for your life and well-being. They do this work on a volunteer basis which means they are here because they want to be. Click here to see what some of our course graduates have said about our education programs!

NAMI Homefront - Service Member Families

For Active Duty & Veteran Families

Originally developed with the help of the U.S. Army, this program is similar to our Family-to-Family program and is adapted for active duty and veteran service member families. NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley works with the Veterans Administration and the Rock Island Arsenal to offer the appropriate family education to support those living with PTSD, a traumatic brain injury or other mental health conditions.

Family members and caregivers of an adult loved one can take this 6-session program at no cost. NAMI Homefront is available as an online course. Please see here for free, confidential, online resources including the education program.

NAMI Family-to-Family Program

For Family & Friends

This free, 8-session education program is for family, significant others and friends of adult individuals affected by mental illness. Significantly improve your coping and problem solving capabilities with this class. You don’t have to take our word for it, though! The facts are all there thanks to several university studies plus federal agency research. There are presentations, discussions and interactive sessions in a group setting. You’ll experience compassion and validation from people who understand your mental health problems. You also have the ability to help others by sharing your own experiences. Learn about:

Problem-solving and effective communication
Self-care and stress management
Supporting your loved one with compassion
Local services and supports
Current information on mental health conditions and how they affect the brain
Handling crises
Current treatment options and therapies
The impact of mental health conditions on the entire family and family support

NAMI Peer-to-Peer

For Adults Living with Mental Illness

This 8-session, free course focuses on recovery education. It is open to anyone experiencing mental health problems. Growth, healing and recovery are the primary focuses. You will learn:

How to prevent relapse
How to improve quality of life
Coping and communication skills
Share your story
Exercises to calm thinking
Skills for working with providers and the public
How to protect your interests
Strengthen relationships
Setting a vision and future goals
Partner with healthcare providers
Develop autonomy and strong decision making abilities
A better understanding of yourself and your recovery

NAMI Basics

For Parents & Caregivers

This 6-session, free, OnDemand program is for parents and caregivers of children and adolescents who have either been diagnosed with a mental health condition or who are experiencing symptoms but have not yet been diagnosed. You will learn:

The biology of mental illness
The latest research, advances in treatment and overview of treatment options
The impact of a child’s mental illness on the rest of the family
An overview of the systems of care for children and high school teens living with mental illness

Did you know…

Did you know that 17% of our youth (6-17 years old) experience a mental health disorder? That’s why early detection is key.

Mental Health Education Programs

Mental Health Awareness