We will begin a new session on Wednesday nights, January 23-April 9, from 6-9 p.m. at the Northwest Community Mental Health Network, 901 Kirchoff Road, Arlington Heights.

We also plan to offer a session in Barrington.

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 skill-training with emotional support, self care and
empowerment."

There is no cost to participate, but registration is necessary as class size is limited.

Monday, December 17 . NAMI Barrington Area board meeting in the Barrington Area Library, Large Meeting Room B, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. Drop in and learn what's going on in the chapter!

Wednesdays starting January 23, NAMI Barrington Area's Family to Family education program. 12 weekly classes to help you understand and support individuals with mental disorders while maintaining your own well being. 6-9 p.m. at the Northwest Community Mental Health Network, 901 Kirchoff Road, Arlington Heights. No charge. Registration required. Call Maryrose now for details or to register at 847-382-6623.

Monday, December 3 and 17. NAMI Greater Chicago consumer support group meets twice monthly (usually the first and third Mondays), 2:30 - 4 p.m. at their offices, 536 W. Chicago Ave, 1st Floor, Chicago. Call Betty at 312-563-0445 or visit their website for information or for other city and suburban support groups.

Monday, December 3. NAMI Cook County North "Care & Share" family support group meets from 7 - 8:30 p.m. the first Monday of the month at the Kenton-Knox Conference Center at Rush North Shore Medical Center, 9701 N. Knox, Skokie. No charge. No reservation needed. Call Jan Magoc at at 847-297-0396 for information.

Tuesday, December 11. NAMI Barrington Area Chapter family support group, 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the Barrington Area Library, Large Meeting Room B. (No charge, no reservation needed.) Call Mary at 847-381-6919 for information.

Tuesday, December 11 and 25. The NAMI DuPage Chapter family support group meets the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the NAMI office, 1403 North Main, Ste 301, Wheaton. (No charge, no reservation needed.) Phone 630-752-0066 with any questions.

Wednesday, December 12. NAMI Greater Chicago family support group meets monthly (usually the second Wednesday), 7 - 9 p.m. at their offices, 536 W. Chicago Ave, 1st Floor, Chicago. Call 312-563-0445 or visit their website for information or for other city and suburban support groups.

Thursday, December 13. The NAMI Elk Grove Chapter family support group meets the second Thursday of the month from 6:45- 8:45 p.m. at the Kenneth Young Center, 1001 Rohlwing Rd., Elk Grove. Family, friends, and recovered consumers are welcome Call Sue at 630-529-3037 or Gina at 630 302 2530 for more information.

Wednesday, December 19. NAMI Northwest Suburban Chapter family support group meets the third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at Alexian Center for Mental Health, 3350 Salt Creek Lane, Suite 114, Arlington Heights. Call Star at 847-899-0195 for details.

Thursday, December 20. NAMI McHenry County Chapter family support group meets the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the McHenry County Mental Health Board Building, 620 Dakota St., Crystal Lake. Call 815-444-9991 for information.

Thursday, December 20. The NAMI Elk Grove/Scaumburg family support group meets the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Hanover Park Branch Library, 1266 Irving Park Road, Hanover Park. Call Linda: at 847-985-9128 for information.

Monday, December 23. The NAMI DuPage Chapter's parents with children with a mental illness support group meets the 4th Monday of the month at 7:30pm at the NAMI office. (No charge, no reservation needed.) Call 630-752-0066 for information.

The meeting room at the public library was filled with energy and enthusiasm as we heard an overview of the chapter’s successes and plans and then listened to three fascinating guest speakers:   Sue Shimon of Wilpower, Inc., Jay Forman from Thresholds and Joe Novak, the Director or Northwest Community Hospital’s Mental Health Network. 

Please allow me to introduce myself as a new member of NAMI-Barrington Area, the Clinical Educator for Northwest Community Hospital's Mental Health Network and a family member.  Hugh Brady asked if I would follow Dr. Grace and write this column.

My topic this month is stress – a crucial issue if you or someone you love has a mental illness, and an especially relevant topic during the holidays. I have 12 tips to share from the Mayo Clinic's website – I think you'll find them very helpful.

Advocacy is particularly needed in Illinois, a state with one of the worst records on mental health programs in the country. Though our legislators have a terrible record, most just don’t know a whole lot about mental illness and they’ll try to do the right thing, once they know what needs to be done.  It’s up to us to educate them. 

Whether you're trying to establish a disability for a loved one or just wondering about your retirement benefits, we hope this explanation of how work and disability fit within SSA benefits will help you.

This month, Part Three: Disability Coverage

(Or read Part One or Part 2)

In Illinois, a bill to create the Illinois Affordable Housing Capital Fund awaits the govenor's signature, and he needs some urging to sign the bill.

But the Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Research Institute, Center for Psychiatric Genetics needs to keep working. They're looking for people who suffer from schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder willing to participate in further study.

The research consists of interviews, review of hospitalization records and a blood draw from each participant. The interview lasts approximately two hours and covers his or her psychiatric and family history. There is also a parent or caretaker interview that lasts approximately 30 minutes and covers the person’s psychiatric history. The participant will receive $50 for completion of the diagnostic interview and $25 for the blood draw. The interviews and blood draw can be done at a laboratory or in the family's home. Confidentiality is protected.

If you're interested in helping, call Elizabeth Miller at (224) 364-7566 or email EMiller1@enh.org

The site is pretty cool. The idea is to help people needing help hook up with federal and state assistance. It's so cool that we've decided to add a link to it and other helpful websites as a perminent part of this newsletter. (We'd love to hear of others you use.)

It's pretty simple. You just have to enter Amazon through the link from the NAMI National website. If you follow the link below, their computer will know that you're a NAMI shopper and will credit NAMI for what you buy (in most categories). Beyond using the portal, you don't have to do anything special and you'll pay no more. What could be simpler?

We've completed more than a full year as a NAMI chapter and are beginning to reach our stride. It's been a wonderful experience for me personally to be involved. I can't tell you how much I've learned and how helpful it's been in my own dealings with family members with mental health issues.

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?

There's so much we can accomplish, but only with more good people like you pitching in. We have some specific needs in mind, but if there's something you feel you can accomplish, we'd love to hear what it is. Please call.

If you can help, call Maryrose at 847-382-6623.

Thresholds (for rehabilitation help and housing)
Wilpower (for rehabilitation help and housing)
Community links from Wilpower
Alliance to End Homelessness in Cook County newsletter
St Hubert Job Ministry
Government Benefits portal
Social Security Administration
Veterans Administration

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