NAMI Barrington Area - National Alliance on Mental Illness


Home Newsletter Local Events Family to Family Support Groups Advocacy President's Desk In The Trench Brochure Library Criminal Justice Action Committee Financial Report Thank-you Membership Contact Us Emergency Phone Numbers Helpful Resources Sign up for our Email Newsletter	NAMI Barrington Area Welcomes You NAMI Barrington Area (NAMIBA) is a not-for-profit organization that offers programs and services primarily for those in the suburbs near Barrington, Illinois, but we welcome anyone, regardless of where they live or work. NAMI Barrington Area is an affiliate of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for people with brain disorders, called mental illness, and their families through mutual support, education in mental illness, support of research, and advocacy for improved mental health services. Upcoming Events -- Please Join Us NAMI BA Presents Social Security Disability: Change and Confusion Wednesday May 22 7-9pm Learn about Social Security Disability (SSD) law and programs and how to prepare the strongest case possible when seeking SSD for a loved one. SPEAKER: Attorney Jeffrey Rabin WHERE: Barrington Village Hall 200 S. Hough Street Barrington, Il WHEN: May 22 from 7-9pm There is no charge to attend, however RSVP is requested. Call 847-496-1415. Education and Support Groups Support Groups and Educational Outreach: NAMI Barrington Area offers support groups for families and individuals and programs for those with a serious mental illness. We will also provide education and outreach programs to help reduce the stigma attached to mental illnesses. Family-to-Family Education: Click here for information. In Our Own Voice: Click here for information. Various Support Groups: Family Support Group: Click here for information. Connections Recovery Support Group: Click here for information. Support Group for Parents and Young Teens: Click here for information. Support Group for Spouses and Significant Others: Click here for information. NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group NAMI Connection is a weekly recovery support group for people living with mental illness in which people learn from each others’ experiences, share coping strategies, and offer each other encouragement and understanding. WHEN: Every Thursday 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. WHERE: Northwest Community Hospital (Mental Health Network building) 901 Kirchoff, 2nd floor Arlington Heights Support groups can be very helpful, especially for those going through a crisis. There is no charge and you don't need a reservation to attend. Call Nora at (847) 899-NAMI (899-6264) for more information. Family Support Group: NAMI Barrington Area offers support groups for families of those with a serious mental illness. They are held at the following location and times; No registration required and no cost to attend: (Click here for additional information) **Weekly at Northwest Community Hospital (Mental Health Network building)** 901 Kirchoff, Arlington Heights Every Thursday 7:00 - 9:00 pm For additional information or questions contact: Call Frank at (847) 899-NAMI (899-6264) Bi-Monthly NAMI PACT Support Group for Parents of Children and Teens Our NAMI PACT offering a group for parents of children and adolescents. Biological and adoptive parents are welcome. WHEN: First and Third Friday of each month 6:30-7pm social time 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. formal support time WHERE: Northwest Community Hospital (Mental Health Network building adjacent to parking lot #7) 901 Kirchoff, 2nd floor Arlington Heights Support groups can be very helpful, especially for those going through a crisis. There is no charge and you don't need a reservation to attend. Call Toni at tonihoy@comcast.net or (847) 804-2088 after 5 on weeknights for more information. (Please leave a message if you don't catch her.) Support Group for Spouses or Significant Others Meeting Second Monday of Every Month NAMI Barrington Area is offering a new support group for the Spouses or Significant Others of loved ones with Mental Illness and we would like you to join us. We meet the Second Monday of each month. This support group will be led by spouses of persons who live with mental illness. Like our other support groups, there is no charge to attend and no need to make a reservation. The Spouses, and Significant Others, of loved ones with Mental illness are welcome to join us. For more details please call NAMI BA at 847/496-1415. NAMI Barrington Area Board Meeting WHO: Interested members of NAMI BA WHAT: NAMI BA Board of Directors meeting WHEN: Wednesday, May15th 7:00 - 8:30 pm WHERE: Kildeer Village Hall 21911 Quentin Road Kildeer, Il. NAMI Barrington Area Monthly Columns From the President's Desk - by Joseph Jason "From the President's Desk" is a column that addresses various mental health issues, including such things as housing, problems with our state's mental health system, legislative advocacy, NAMI BA activities, interesting books to read, and more." Click here for current and archived messages from the NAMI Barrington Area President, Joseph Jason. In The Trench - by Toni Hoy This column highlights all of us living and working "in the trench" with mental illness. Click here to read "In the Trench" Family-to-Family Education Program These NAMI classes are for family members, partners and friends of individuals with serious mental illness. "This course is a wonderful experience," said one student. "It balances basic education and skills-training with emotional support, self care and empowerment." Success of Family-to-Family Classes Now Evidence-Based - Those of us who have taken or taught NAMI's Family-to-Family course know it works, but new research confirms it. The four-year study, which was reported at this year's NAMI National Conference in Washington DC, was the third undertaken on the effectiveness of Family-to-Family, and the most rigorous so far. It's important for two reasons: It does indeed confirm that the free, 12-week course decreases the burden on family members of people with mental illness (as measured by their own distress, depression, etc.), and that they have better coping and problem solving skills, better access to resources, and more functional families. Read more about the study. Click here for more information on what is covered during the twelve weeks. Our current Family to Family classes in Barrington and at Northwest Community Hospital are filled to capacity. As evidenced in our very high in attendance, there is a huge need for this type of education and support with these illnesses. Both classes reached maximum attendance weeks before the first day of class, so if you are interested in attending our January classes it is not too early to register. You don't need to be a NAMI member, and it doesn't matter if you live in a particular chapter. There is no cost to participate, but registration is necessary as class size is limited. To register or request more information contact: Maryrose at 847-496-1415 (maryrosepeters@hotmail.com) Advocacy for Improved Mental Health Services in Illinois NAMI Barrington Area also actively seeks to improve mental health services in Illinois. The need for improved services is critical! Illinois ranked 34^th out of the 50 states in per-capita public spending on mental health services and programs in a study recently completed by NAMI National Illinois was one of only eight states that earned a grade of F from NAMI. Illinois ranked well below Indiana, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York. and even Mississippi. In many cases, the criminal justice system has become the main method of dealing with the mentally ill. In fact, in Illinois there are more people suffering from mental illnesses in our prisons than in all of our mental hospitals, public and private, combined! Members of the new NAMI Barrington Area chapter plan to work with state and local legislators to improve this situation. Contact NAMI Barrington Area Click here to contact NAMI Barrington Area. Newsletters - If you would like to receive our newsletter by email, add your email address below. The newsletter is sent out about the first of each month. Sign up for our Email Newsletter