| In This Issue |
| Who We Are |
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation's foremost grassroots mental health organization. We are dedicated to improving the lives of people living with serious brain disorders that cause mental illness and to improving the lives of their families. Founded in 1979, NAMI is active in all 50 states, Canada, and Mexico with over 1100 local chapters across the country. Our mission is one of education, support, self help, advocacy and research.
NAMI Barrington Area is a new NAMI chapter located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. We are a dedicated group of people serving Barrington and nearby suburbs hoping to help you or someone you love on the path to recovery from mental illness. Call us at 847-496-1415.
About NAMI Barrington area chapter
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Shop and Socialize for the NAMI Cause
Please join us for an afternoon with NAMI Barrington Area.
Saturday, May 1-12:00 - 4:00 p.m.
111 Grille - Barrington Ice House
200 Appleby St., Barrington
$20 ticket includes appetizers and drink
Featured products include Lia Sophia, Stella and Dot Jewelry, Mary Kay Cosmetics, KA Designz handbags, pillows & gifts, Pampered Chef cookware, Tastefully Simple gourmet foods, Chuck Horseburger birdhouses, PartyLite candles & gifts
Tickets at the door or in advance. Call Steph for information at (847)732-2573.
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April Events
Wednesday, April 15. NAMI Elk Grove presents In Our Own Voice for Harper College Nursing Students and other students in the health and social service professions. Kenneth Young Center Community Room, 1001 Rohlwing Road, Elk Grove. No charge. No reservation required. Contact Carol at 847-352 6708 for information.
Saturday, April 17, 8 - 5. The Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance presents its 11th Annual Symposium, featuring Kevin Roy of ABC 7 News. At the North Shore University Health System, Frank Auditorium, 2650 Ridege, Evanston, IL. Registration required; fee applies.
Monday, April 19, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. NAMI Barrington Area board meeting at the Community Church of Barrington. Drop in and learn what's going on in the chapter!
Saturday, April 24, 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m. Northern Illinois Family Conference, "Helping Families take the Driver's Seat of Family Driven Care." Keynote speaker Dr. Marc Atkins will speak about advocating for your child in school. At Waubonsee Community College. Note registration required. Cost ranges from $15 to $60 to attend (youth rate to professionals with CEU credit). Questions: Stephanie Frank, Illinois Federation of Families at (815) 344-3200 or sfrankiff@yahoo.com.
Wednesday, April 28, 7:00 pm. NAMI NW suburban presents Connie Rakitan, Mental Health Faith and Fellowship Coordinator from the Chicago Archdiocese. At the Alexian Brothers Center for Mental Health. No charge. No reservation. Call 847-899-0195 or email naminwsub@aol.com for information.
Friday, April 30 thru Sunday, May 2. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) hosts conference "Celebrating 25 Years of Peer Support." This peer-led and peer-centered conference will feature over 20 presentations from leading experts in the mental health community. At Englewood Resort in Itasca. Registration and fee required. Price varies according to how much of conference you attend. More information and registration on conference site.
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May Events
Saturday, May 1, 12:00p.m. - 4:00p.m. Join NAMI BA for an afternoon of shopping and socializing for a cause. Featured products include Mia Sophia and Stella and Dot Jewelry, Mary Kay cosmetics, KA Designz handbags, pillows & gifts, Pampered Chef cookware, Tastefully Simple gourmet foods, Chuck Horseburger birdhouses, Party Lite candles & gifts. $20 tickets include appetizers and a drink. Tickets at the door or in advance by calling Steph at (847)732-2573.
Wednesday, May 5, time TBD. The Mental Health Summit and NAMI Illinois organize 2010 Mental Health Lobby Day. Day includes two simultaneous rallies, one in Chicago and one in Springfield. The Springfield rally will also include time for participants to meet their legislators in person and make the case for protecting mental health services and fixing Illinois broken budget system. The Summit plans to provide busses to Springfield from several Chicago area locations. Stay tuned for further details.
Saturday, May 8, 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Five local NAMI chapters present Moviefest for Mental Health, at the Countryside Unitarian Universalist Church, 1025 N. Smith Street, Palatine. Includes the Soloist, Minds on the Edge and When Medicine Got It Wrong, all runing continuously in several rooms (so come when you wish). No charge. No reservation. Phone 847-899-1095 for information.
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Area Support Groups
You may find that a support group can be very helpful, especially if you, a partner, friend or family member is going through a crisis. A very large number of groups meet in our area for consumers as well as family members and friends.
Each month, we publish a list of support groups that you can attend, generally at no charge and with no need to make a reservation. You can access that list in a printable format here.
We would also like to invite you to the groups hosted by our own chapter, NAMI Barrington Area. This month we will offer a NAMI Connections group for consumers and a family support group every Thursday at Northwest Community Hospital at 7 p.m. (call Nora at 847-899- -6264 for more information). We will also hold a family group on Tuesday, March 9 at the Barrington Area Library (call Mary at 847-381-6919 or Trowby at 847-382-6015) and another family group on Monday, March 22 at Northwest Community Hospital (call Mary 847-381-6919 or Elba 847-963-9330). |
New Support Combination Begins
NAMI BA's new pairing of a consumer and a family support group has begun. The new program features simultaneous meetings of a NAMI Connections Support group for people with mental illness, and in a room across the hall a Family Support group.
This pairing allows consumers and families to attend support groups at the same time and location. People are also welcome to attend either group without other family members.
According to NAMI BA's Frank and Nora Stankiewicz, the facilitators who run the two groups, the sessions, which were started in early March, are off to a fantastic start. Those who have attended have found the sessions helpful and there are many who have attended several weeks in a row.
The two groups meet every Thursday from 7:00 - 8:30 PM at Northwest Community Hospital's building #7, the mental health unit, in the northwest corner of the hospital campus at 701 Kirchoff Rd.
Look for the second floor meeting rooms. Advance registration in not necessary; people who are interested should just show up.
If you have questions or would like more information about this exciting new program, contact Nora or Frank at 847-258-4636
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Family to Family Classes
by Maryrose Peters
The National Institute of Mental Health states that in any given year, about one in four adults suffer form a diagnosable mental illness and 1 in 17 of the general population deals with a severe and persistent mental illness. It is no wonder then that one of NAMI Barrington Area's most successful programs is our Family to Family education course. We have expanded to teach four 12 week sessions each year in both Barrington and Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights and still the classes fill to maximum capacity.
Family to Family is a free 12-week course for family caregivers of individuals with severe mental illnesses that discusses the clinical treatment of these illnesses and teaches the knowledge and skills that family members need to cope more effectively. It balances basic education and skill training with emotional support, self care and empowerment. To date over 200,000 family members have graduated this class nationwide!
Since these illnesses are so common, it is guaranteed that you may know a family who may need this valuable information, so please help us spread the word! We now take registrations all year long, so give us a call to find out more about this program by calling Maryrose at 847-496-1415. |
Governor Quinn Proposes Deep Cuts
Legislative Alert by Hugh Brady
On March 17, Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn made his annual budget address to the Illinois General Assembly. He proposed deep cuts in many human service programs including mental health programs.
Among other cuts, he proposed a $90 million cut in funding for community mental health services, which will have a net impact of about a 40% cut in funding for these services, on top of a 14% cut last year.
As a result of these budget cuts, somewhere between 25 and 83 community mental health centers in the state will be forced to close, and more than 70,000 consumers will lose access to basic mental health care including medications, psychiatry visits and case management.
In addition, these cuts will force state agencies and mental health service providers to eliminate over 4,000 beds from community residential settings. In other words, more than 4,000 people now housed in various types of supportive housing will be evicted.
We must act.
Learn more.
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Mental Health Lobby Day Set
Wednesday, May 5 is a day for confronting your legislators. The Mental Health Summit, an umbrella group of mental health service providers and advocacy groups, including NAMI Illinois, has tentatively set this year's mental health lobby day for Wednesday, May 5. Early plans call for two simultaneous rallies, one in Chicago and one in Springfield. The Springfield rally will also include time for participants to meet their legislators in person and make the case for protecting mental health services and fixing Illinois broken budget system.
The Summit plans to provide busses to Springfield from several Chicago area locations. Stay tuned for further details.
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Attention Advocates:
NAMI BA initiates Criminal Justice Action Committeeby Jospeh M. Jason
Did you know that there are more people with mental illness in Illinois' prisons and jails than in all the residential mental health facilities public and private combined? In fact, more than 50% of prison inmates in the US have symptoms of serious mental illness. What it means is that the mental healthcare system is failing - failing long before people enter the criminal justice system and failing long after they leave it. Individuals are sentenced to lives without hope and enormous costs are shifted on to our police, courts, jails and prisons at all levels.
States are failing to invest in providing adequate mental healthcare. Prison is never the optimal place for mental health treatment. NAMI believes in treatment instead of incarceration for people with mental illness.
Do you have a loved one with a brain disorder who is finding themselves in the judicial system? Do you want to advocate for change in the criminal justice system? Are you concerned about how law enforcement officials treat the mentally ill? Are you concerned that the Illinois Department of Corrections has historically issued only a 14-day supply of psychotropic drugs to mentally ill offenders upon release. Is your child autistic and you are concerned for his or her safety in prison? Are you concerned about what do when they get out?
The NAMI BA Board has approved the creation of a Criminal Justice Action Committee Some of the initial ideas for this committee to work on include the following:
1) Assisting families in crisis with best practice methods of dealing with having a loved one in the legal system. We have already informally started this.
2) Advocating for CIT Training in police departments.
3) Educating prosecutors, judges and public defenders about organic brain disorders.
4) Advocating for more mental health courts in Illinois.
5) Advocating for the mentally ill to be able to get social security benefits while in jail /prison.
6) Advocating for proper step down programs. This includes housing and medication.
7) Visiting jails/prison in Illinois and see firsthand how the mentally ill are treated and give reports.
A number of people have already expressed interest in working with this committee, and we are hoping to involve others as well, including people from other NAMI affiliates. If you are interested in learning more about this committee, call me, Joseph M. Jason, at (847)537-3009 or e-mail at jmj2400@yahoo.com. We will be working out the details as to when and where we will be meeting very shortly.
We hope you will want to help us make a difference in advocating in this important cause.
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NAMI Launches Social Networking Site
Mental Health, Finances, Relationships, Music and More
NAMI National has launched StrengthofUs.org, a new online community where young adults living with mental health concerns can provide mutual support in navigating unique challenges and opportunities during the critical transition years from ages 18 to 25.
Developed by young adults, StrengthofUs.org is a user-driven social networking community where members can connect with peers, share personal stories, creativity and helpful resources by writing and responding to blog entries, engaging in discussion groups and sharing videos, photos and other news.
The site offers resources on issues important to young adults, including:
· Healthy relationships
· Family and friends
· Campus life
· Independent living
· Finances
· Employment
· Housing
· Mental health issues
"StrengthofUs.org is about helping and inspiring each other," said Alex M. White, age 23, a member of the advisory group of young adults who helped develop the Web site. "I would not be alive today if it had not been for the love, care and support I received from family, friends and loved ones." |
Hearts & Minds: A New Online NAMI Program
The new NAMI Hearts & Minds program is an online, interactive, educational initiative promoting the idea of wellness in both mind and body. People living with mental illness are often at higher risk for heart disease and much of that risk is preventable. They are also more likely to be cigarette smokers, obese, diabetic, have elevated cholesterol and hypertension (high blood pressure).
The more you know, the more you can increase your odds of living a long and full life. The NAMI Hearts & Minds program offers information and support for those aspiring to live a healthier life.
Visit the website |
Call Center Up and Running
The new homeless assistance and prevention call center for suburban Cook County is up and running. The Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County, an umbrella group of more than 50 homeless assistance providers, including many providing mental health services, has used some federal economic stimulus funds to open the new center.Now, instead of having to call many different agencies to see if they can provide help for people who have lost their homes or who may be about to, people can call one number, explain their situation and be referred to the appropriate agency for assistance.
Given the state of the economy it is no surprise that in the center's first months of operation, call volume has been running far ahead of expectations. In February alone it received more than 1,600 calls.
The toll free number is 1-877-426-6515. Please share this number with anyone you know who is homeless or in danger of losing their home.
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Schizophrenia and Parkinson's Disease
From the President's Desk by Hugh Brady
Recently my wife and I have taken to listening to CDs from the Teaching Company, a group that provides topnotch lecture series from renowned university professors on a wide variety of topics. We are just now finishing Biology and Human Behavior: The Neurological Origins of Individuality, a series of 24 lectures by Professor Robert Sapolsky at Stanford University.
The series is absolutely fascinating. In describing how the neural systems work, Professor Sapolsky also shows how they can work incorrectly, resulting in mental illness. If you every doubted that mental illnesses are biologically based brain disorders, these lectures will certainly clear that up for you.
Sapolsky talks about schizophrenia, for example, and says that the most current research holds that the main problem in this illness is that neurons in key areas of the brain produce too much of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is also connected with Parkinson's Disease, and a shortage of dopamine can cause Parkinson's-like symptoms - a side effect of drugs used to treat schizophrenia.
Read more about this series and how to find it
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Minds on Edge Screening a Success
On Monday March 8, NAMI BA sponsored a screening of the PBS video Minds on the Edge: Facing Mental Illness at Barrington Village Hall. More than 35 people attended and found the film very helpful and that many of the scenarios described in it reflected the reality of "facing mental illness."
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Volunteers Needed
Do you really mean it when you say you want to help people with mental health issues?
If so, we can use your help at NAMI Barrington Area. I want to invite you to help us support and advocate for people with brain disorders, and in so doing, help yourself. Are you willing to lend a hand? It's a wonderful experience to be involved and make a difference!
There's so much we can accomplish, but only with more good people like you pitching in. Please call Maryrose at 847-496-1415.
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| Please pass on this newsletter
We hope you'll pass this newsletter on to friends, family members or professionals who might get some useful information from it. Even though you don't know if your friend would need this valuable information and support, you never know who may have a co-worker or neighbor who would.
The best way to pass it on is to hit the 'forward email' button at the bottom of this page.
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Join NAMI
We hope you'll join NAMI and support our advocacy for the mentally ill. The cost is only $35 (adult and spouse) or $10 (for consumer). If this cost will create a financial hardship, we have a limited number of open door memberships available at a reduced fee.
If you don't wish to join right now, but you'd like to receive our free newsletter, simply use the "Join our mailing list" button in the blue column to the right. Membership form
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Emergency Numbers
Local police/ambulance: 911
State police: 847-294-4400
Crisis team, Alexian Brothers, Hoffman Estates
(24 hour): 800-432-5005
Illinois state suicide line: 800-784-2433
Ecker Center 24-hour emergency program (Elgin) 847-888-2211
More emergency numbers
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