Community Education
Our Education & Community Training department aims to reach the DuPage County area and educate the community about mental health issues and recovery. Our goal is to meet people where they are at, by providing information on whichever topic related to mental illness they might need and connecting them with our helpful staff at NAMI DuPage, to ensure they receive additional help and support.
We work with a variety of people; individuals with a mental health diagnosis themselves, family members and friends whose loved one is diagnosed, or organizations and companies wanting to learn how to better serve their clients and staff. Please click on any of the following sections to learn more about the community education opportunities available from NAMI DuPage!
For more information, please contact Jessica Schneider, Director of Community Education, at [email protected], or by phone at (630) 752-0066.
Classes & Educational Materials
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
Community Training
Upcoming Workshops
Get Involved
Classes & Educational Materials
Our education classes are led by trained individuals and family members who have their own “lived experience” and personal journey with mental illness and recovery, NAMI DuPage classes provide a wealth of knowledge about mental illness and recovery that complements professional treatment. In addition to our classes, community members can also find valuable job readiness materials that will help them successfully navigate finding a job.
NAMI Ending the Silence – School Staff
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 school staff version of this program includes a 1-hour presentation for school staff members that includes information about warning signs, facts and statistics, how to approach students and how to work with families.
For more information about our Ending the Silence programs, or to schedule a presentation, visit our Youth Services page.
Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid USA is a 6-hour training program that teaches participants how to help someone who is developing a mental health condition, or experiencing a mental health crisis. This class is appropriate for adults aged 18+ years, who want to learn more about mental health issues. Completion of this course means you will walk away with valuable knowledge that will help you:
For more information about our Ending the Silence programs, or to schedule a presentation, visit our Youth Services page.
- Identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health/substance use disorders
- Learn risk factors and warning signs
- Show a person who has a mental health condition that they are not alone
- Become confident in assisting someone in crisis
- Build a better understanding of Mental Health/Substance use disorders impact
Review our various class types below! PLEASE NOTE: For Virtual training, a Webcam, microphone and speaker is REQUIRED to be ON for the duration of the training for participation in order to obtain the certificate of completion and CEU’s. If this is not done, class completion will not be given.
If you would like to host a Mental Health First Aid training program, please make a request at least 6 weeks prior to your desired training date, in order to ensure that all requirements have been completed.
For more information, please send us an email at [email protected], or call NAMI DuPage at (630) 752-0066.Visit our Events page for more information on how to register!
Adult
Meeting Address:
NAMI DuPage
Linda A Kurzawa
Community Center
115 N County Farm Road
Wheaton, IL 60187
Day: Wednesday
Time: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Adult
This 8-hour class can be taken either in-person, fully online, or as a hybrid of both formats:
- In-person: 8-hour class
- Online: 2-hour self study and 6-hour online class
- Hybrid: 4-hour self-study and 4-hour in-person class
Youth
This 6-hour class can be taken either in-person, fully online, or as a hybrid of both formats:
- In-person: 6-hour class
- Online: 2-hour self study and 4-hour online class
- Hybrid: 2-hour self-study and 4-hour in-person class
Public Safety
For individuals who work as either law officers or other departmental staff. In-person, 8-hour class format only
Fire Department / EMS
For individuals who work as either firefighters or EMS. In-person, 8-hour class format only
CEU / CPDUs
CPDUs – For teachers only
- Adult – 8-hours* of CEU/CPDUs are provided
- Youth – 6-hours* of CEU/CPDUs are provided
*Must complete all hours and tasks to qualify to receive the certificate of completion or CEU/CPDUs
Host a Free Class
The classes are offered for free through the generous support of the Community Memorial Foundation.
The free training is for those who live or work in the following communities: Bridgeview, Broadview, Brookfield, Burr Ridge, Clarendon Hills, Countryside, Darien, Downers Grove, Hickory Hills, Hinsdale, Hodgkins, Indian Head Park, Justice, La Grange, La Grange Park, Lyons, McCook, North Riverside, Oak Brook, Riverside, Stickney, Summit, Westchester, Western Springs, Westmont, Willowbrook. and Willow Springs.
For communities not listed above, please contact NAMI DuPage or NAMI Metro-Suburban directly to request a Mental Health First Aid training. Please allow at least 60 days notice before your Mental Health First Aid Training Request.
Host a Free Class
The classes are offered for free through the generous support of the Community Memorial Foundation.
The free training is for those who live or work in the following communities: Bridgeview, Broadview, Brookfield, Burr Ridge, Clarendon Hills, Countryside, Darien, Downers Grove, Hickory Hills, Hinsdale, Hodgkins, Indian Head Park, Justice, La Grange, La Grange Park, Lyons, McCook, North Riverside, Oak Brook, Riverside, Stickney, Summit, Westchester, Western Springs, Westmont, Willowbrook. and Willow Springs.
For communities not listed above, please contact NAMI DuPage or NAMI Metro-Suburban directly to request a Mental Health First Aid training. Please allow at least 60 days notice before your Mental Health First Aid Training Request.
NAMI Basics OnDemand
NAMI Basics OnDemand is a free, six-session online education program for parents, caregivers and other families who provide care for youths (aged 22 and under) who are living with mental health symptoms.
For questions about this program, please reach out to Shuchi Srivastava at [email protected], or by phone at 630-752-0066.
Peer-to-Peer & WRAP Course
Peer-to-Peer classes are free, online classes for adults with mental health conditions. This 8-week course is great for those who may be new to their diagnosis, or who are looking to better understand themselves, their diagnosis, and how to start their recovery. WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) is also an 8-week course, for individuals who have been living with a mental health condition and continue to build their knowledge and confidence in their recovery through building their crisis plan.
For questions about these classes, please reach out to Shuchi Srivastava, Support Program Coordinator, at [email protected], or by phone at 630-752-0066.
Family-to-Family Educational Course
Family-to-Family is a free 8-week educational course designed specifically for adult family members (18+) and others who have adult loved ones living with a mental illness. The course is taught by other family members who have received intensive training for these presentations.
For questions about Family-to-Family, please contact Suzanne Gowdy, Director of Family Support Services at [email protected], or by phone at 630-752-0066.
NAMI Provider Training Program
Who participates in Provider Training?
The NAMI Provider program is intended for all professionals working in healthcare settings. Anyone who interacts with or will interact with people affected by mental illness is encouraged to participate.
• Health care providers
• Administrative staff
• Operational staff
• Students in medical school/healthcare training programs
To schedule a NAMI Provider Training for your organization, please contact Jessica Schneider, Director of Community Education at [email protected] or call our office at 630-752-0066.
Learn more HERE
NAMI Homefront Educational Program
Based on the nationally recognized NAMI Family-to-Family program, NAMI Homefront is a free, 6-session educational program for families, caregivers and friends of military service members and veterans living with mental health conditions.
Community Training Opportunities
NAMI DuPage offers community training presentations in an effort to help people grow their understanding of mental health conditions, how to respond to signs and symptoms, practical ways to connect people to mental health resources, and more! Hosting a NAMI-led presentation is extremely valuable for yourself and your community, especially since:
- Mental Health Conditions are more common than cancer, diabetes & heart disease
- 1 in 5 individuals will face a mental health condition in their lifetime
- The stigma surrounding mental health is the #1 reason why people don’t seek treatment for their mental health conditions (less than 30% of people with a mental health diagnosis seek medical treatment.)
Click below to learn more about our training opportunities and to request training!
Upcoming Workshops
More Speaker Series & Workshops to be scheduled throughout the year – stay tuned and check out our list of upcoming workshops by clicking the link below!
Teen Workshops
NAMI DuPage is pleased to offer workshops for teens! Participants will walk away with exercises and tools they can practice themselves. Our interactive workshops are tailored for each audience. These workshops cover a variety of topics and are hosted virtually.
Workshop topics:
- Stress Relief
- Anxiety & Depression
- Social Media
For more information, please get in touch with Leigh Nelson, Director of Youth Services, at [email protected]
Interested in attending or hosting a workshop for middle or high school students? Please visit our Youth Services page for more information or to complete a Workshop Request form!
NAMI DuPage Speaker’s Bureau
Our Speaker’s Bureau is made up of individuals who either live with a mental health condition, and/or walk alongside someone who lives with a mental health condition. These speakers bravely go into community libraries, churches, hospitals, and other facilities with the goal of sharing not only their personal stories, but also sharing the hope that they have found in recovery and wellness.
- Mental Health Essentials Community Training – specifically, sharing stories of lived experiences to complement the community training
- Hospital Recovery Connections Program – specifically, sharing stories with people who are currently in treatment for mental health conditions
- NAMI Family & Friends Seminar – specifically, sharing stories with people who have loved ones living with a mental health condition
- NAMI PD C.O.N.N.E.C.T. Program – specifically, sharing stories with people who are first responders and security staff in DuPage County
Join the Speaker’s Bureau
NAMI DuPage is looking for individuals who are far enough along in their recovery and are comfortable sharing their stories in area hospitals, community organizations, and local police departments. A speaker may be either an individual recovering from a mental health condition, or a family member whose loved one lives with a mental health condition. They must be comfortable discussing the following topics in front of large groups of people:
- Speaker living with mental health conditions:
- Describing their “dark days”
- How they found acceptance of their mental health condition
- Their current/past treatment plans
- Their achievements post-diagnosis
- A speaker whose family member lives with mental health conditions:
- What it looked like to support their loved one
- What they do for self-care
If you are interested in sharing your story and becoming a member of our Speaker’s Bureau, please fill out our Volunteer Form below! For more information, please get in touch with Jessica Schneider, Director of Community Education, at [email protected].