| 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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Family to Family Classes Starting
It's time to register
Family to Family, a series of 12 weekly classes structured to help you understand and support individuals with mental disorders while maintaining your own well being, will soon begin.
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."
There is no cost to participate in a Family to Family class, you don't need to be a NAMI member, and it doesn't matter if you live in a particular chapter's area to attend a class. Just pick out a date and location that's convenient. Please note, however, that registration is necessary as class size is limited.
Barrington Area Chapter
In Barrington: Mondays, starting September 13, 6 - 9 p.m. Contact Maryrose at 847-496-1415 with questions or to register.
At Northwest Community Hospital, Arlington Heights: Wednesdays, starting September 15, 6-9 p.m. Contact Maryrose at 847-496-1415 with questions or to register.
Elk-Grove Schaumburg Chapter
Starting in September. For date and time details and to register, call Jenny at 630-289-0383 or Marianne at 847-885-2279.
Dekalb / Kane County / Kendall County Chapter
At Provena Mercy Medical Center, Aurora: Tuesdays, starting August 17, 6:30 to 9p.m. Call Denise at 630-405-9336 with questions or to register.
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NAMI Walks Chicago
NAMI of Greater Chicago has organized a walk again this year and several area chapters have teams, including NAMI Barrington Area. Here's what you need to know to join or to sponsor a walker:
Sunday, September 19 at 10a.m., the Fifth Annual NAMIWalks Chicago is a 3 mile walk through Grant Park along the Lake to increase awareness and to raise funds to help stop the stigma surrounding mental illness. Check-in at 9a.m. at corner of Balbo and Columbus.
For more information, contact Ryan Elliott via email or 312-563-0445. You can join or contribute to the Barrington Area team here.
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August Events
Tuesday, August 3. Join NAMI DeKalb, Kane South and Kendall Counties at Kane County Cougars Game. This event is a fundraiser for the Kane County Mental Health Court. Donations will be used for program incentives. For more information contact NAMI DKK at 630-896-6264 or info@namidkk.org
Tuesday, August 5, noon to 2 p.m. The Division of Mental Health of the Illinois Department of Human Services is drafting its annual federal block grant application. The application outlines Illinois' plan for the provision of mental health services to adults, adolescents, and children in need of critical services. If you'd like to review the application and comment, you can attend a public forum at the State of Illinois Building, Room N502, 161 N. LaSalle, Chicago or email your comments here.
Starting Tuesday, August 17, 6:30 to 9p.m. and continuing for 12 weeks. NAMI Dekalb presents Family to Family at Provena Mercy Medical Center in Aurora. No charge. Reservations required. Contact Denise at 630-405-9336 with questions or to register.
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September Events
Starting Monday, September 13, 6 - 9 p.m. and continuing for 12 weeks. NAMI Barrington Area presents Family to Family in Barrington. No charge. Reservations required. Contact Maryrose at 847-496-1415 with questions or to register.
Starting Wednesday, September 15, 6 - 9 p.m. and continuing for 12 weeks. NAMI Barrington Area presents Family to Family at Northwest Community Hospital, Arlington Heights. No charge. Reservations required. Contact Maryrose at 847-496-1415 with questions or to register.
NAMI Elk-Grove Schaumburg presents Family-to-Family classes starting in September. For date and time details and to register, call Jenny at 630-289-0383 or call Marianne at 847-885-2279.
Sunday, September 19, 10a.m. Fifth Annual NAMIWalks Chicago. 3 mile walk through Grant Park along the Lake is a fundraiser and aims to increase awareness to help stop the stigma surrounding mental illness in the greater Chicago area. Check-in at 9a.m. at corner of Balbo and Columbus. Several area chapters have teams to join. For more information, contact Ryan Elliott, namiwalkschicago@gmail.com or 312-563-0445. You can join or contribute to the Barrington Area team here.
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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 Monday, August 9 at the Barrington Area Library (call Mary at 847-381-6919 or Trowby at 847-382-6015). |
Family-to-Family Now Evidence-Based
Research Update by Hugh Brady
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.
The study, which met evidence-based practice standards, will also make it easier to raise funds for the course, gain access to venues and other sorts of support.
Read more |
News from the NAMI National Conference
From the President's Desk by Hugh Brady
On June 29, NAMI BA Board member Carol Ziolo and I joined eight other area NAMI members as the Illinois delegation to the NAMI National Conference in Washington DC.
The conference included numerous breakout sessions on a variety of mental health topics, including a screening of a wonderful new film, Unlisted: A Story of Schizophrenia, and sessions on how healthcare reform will affect people with mental illness.
For me, one of the highlights was the time spend lobbying on Capitol Hill. We met with Senators Durbin and Burris (and staff members), Representative Peter Roskam and with Representative Jan Shakowsk's Chief of Staff. All except Representative Roskam were very supportive of mental health issues.
Senator Durbin said it best: "I know people don't want their children to live in a future swimming in debt, but does that mean they want their children living in a future where people with mental illness are ignored and cast out?"
Read Hugh's full report on the conference
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NAMI Illinois Gala a Big Success
NAMI Illinois' July 17 gala was a great success. The hotel was posh, the dinner excellent, the band fine, and of course the company was suburb! Even better, the event raised nearly $40,000 for NAMI Illinois, money that is sorely needed for the group's education programs.
Among those honored at the dinner were Barb, Tom and Nate Maier, long time NAMI supporters and keystones at NAMI Cook County North Suburban, and Daily Herald reporter and columnist, Burt Constable. Area sponsors of the evening included Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights and the Alexian Brothers Foundation. We thank them for their generous support which helped make the evening possible.
Read more about this win-win affair. |
Illinois Budget Cuts Hit Mental Health
Legislative Alert by Hugh BradyIn late June the details of Illinois budget cuts began to trickle out, and the news is grim. Non-Medicaid state mental health programs have been cut deeply. Many more programs have been zeroed out and many community mental health providers are now having to cut more programs and lay off more staff. Thresholds, one of the state's biggest mental health service providers saw its state funding cut by more than $9 million.
Among the program cuts that will affect Thresholds most deeply are those in supportive employment programs. Without supportive employment programs, many consumers who benefit from these programs will lose their jobs and others will be unable to find jobs. And what will be the result of that to the state's budget? Additional loss of revenue and more and more people go from being tax payers to tax consumers.
So is there anything we can do?
The answer is YES! We urge every NAMI member to contact the Governor's office and to urge him to rescind these cuts. (phone: 312-814-2121 or via his website )
Your message can be simple: Ask the governor to restore the cuts to mental health programs. Tell the Govenor that cuts to mental health programs are not cost saving, they are cost shifting! The money "saved" by cuts to community mental health programs will show up elsewhere in increased costs to hospitals, homeless shelters, courts and prisons, and nursing homes, including the IMD nursing homes, both of which are exceedingly expensive. If he really wants to save money, he should increase funding to community mental health programs and then watch expenditures drop in these other areas.
Keep it simple: Cuts to mental health programs are penny wise and pound foolish! |
Attend Our Paired Support Groups
Family and consumer groups Thursdays at Northwest Community
Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights is the location for NAMI BA's ongoing pairing of NAMI a Connections and a Family Support group. The dual program features simultaneous meetings of a NAMI Connections Support group for people with mental illness and a Family Support group.
People are welcome to attend one of the sessions without other family members, but the pairing also allows families to attend support groups at the same time and same location. The consumers go to Connections and their family members can attend the Family Support Group.
The two groups meet every Thursday 7:00 - 8:30 PM at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Height in the second floor meeting rooms of building #7, the mental health unit, in the northwest corner of the hospital campus, 701 Kirchoff Rd. 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. |
Helping Those Who Don't Know They're Sick
Dr. Xavier Amador's comments, given in the workshop "Confronting Anosognosia: How to Help Those Who Don't Know They're Sick" - was a highlight of the 2010 NAM convention July 1-3 in Washington DC.
You can view his comments on YouTube. Watch Part 1, Part 2 or the entire Anosognosia workshop. They provide a quick introduction to his ideas about unawarness of illness as a common symptom of mental illness.
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Help Wanted
MembershipNAMI Barrington Area is always looking for volunteers to help our chapter. One area of especial need is in the area of membership processing and record keeping. Barb Kreski, our current Membership Chair, has recently gotten a new job which is eating into her time, and she'd love to have some help with the task.
Being Membership Chair is not a huge job, and now that the bugs have been worked out of NAMI national's membership processing system, it is easier than it has been in the past. Basically the job consists of entering membership data into the national system as it comes in and in sending out and following up on annual membership renewals. The Membership Chair also makes periodic reports to the NAMI BA Board. We currently have about 70 individual and family memberships, and so it's not too large a group to easily keep track of.
If you'd be willing to help out with membership, and have a computer with Internet access, we'd love to have you. Just give Maryrose a call at 847-496-1415.
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Clinical Research Opportunities
Alexian Brothers looking for adults with depression and children with autism
Are you or someone you know depressed - or do you know someone aged 6-12 with autism?
The Alexian Brothers Center for Psychiatric Research is currently enrolling participants in clinical studies on depression and autism.
Eligible participants may receive medical and psychiatric evaluations along with medication provided at no cost, plus compensation for time and travel.
Please call the center now at 847-230-3591 for a brief phone screening, or learn more here.
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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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Local Hospitals
With Mental Health Serivces
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| Community Mental Health Services
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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. Please register online if possible or download our paper membership form.
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.
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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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