Where: St. Anne's Church, 120 Ela, Barrington, Illinois (in the lower level cafeteria)

When: Tuesday, February 12, 6 - 8 p.m.

Why: An opportunity for all to get together and have fun! (You do not need to be a member to attend.)

We're asking for a donation of $10 per person to cover the cost of the dinner. (Desserts are welcome too!)

Please RSVP by February 5 to 847-537-3009 or bradyhugh@aol.com

Tuesday, February 19. 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!

Thursday - Friday, February 7-8. National Conference on Ending Family Homelessness presented by the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Seattle, Washington. Registration required and admission and conference fees apply.
 

Thursday & Friday, March 6 & 7. The 5th Piecing It All Together Conference - How Children's Mental Health and Mental Illness Affect Family, School and Community. Presented by NAMI of Madison County at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, IL. Registration deadline: February 22. For information or to register, call (618) 798-9788 or email: NAMI-PIAT@hotmail.com

Sunday, March 9. There will be a special performance of Botanic Garden, a play by Todd Logan, NAMI CCNS member and former board member, for the benefit of NAMI CCNS and Wilpower, Inc. 1:00 p.m. at the Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago. Reservations required. Phone NAMI CCNS at 847-716-2252 for details.

Every Monday, the Depression Bipolar Support Alliance support group meets in Arlington Heights from 7.30 to 9.00 p.m. It's open to people living with depression and bipolar disorder and their family and friends. No charge. Contact Leah at mrsn@comcast.net or (847) 541-7754 for information.

Monday, February 4 and 18. 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, February 4. 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.

Monday, February 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, February 12 and 26. 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, February 13. 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, February 14. 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, February 20. 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, February 21. The NAMI Elk Grove/Schaumburg 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.

Thursday, February 21. 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.

Monday, February 25. 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.

Our spring sessions are already under way, but it's not too early to register for our next sessions. We expect to offer one in Barrington, one at the Northwest Community Mental Health Network in Arlington Heights, and possibly one at Waconda.

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. Call Maryrose for details or to register at 847-382-6623 or email maryrosepeters@hotmail.com.

Dealing with the emotions of illness can be very draining, both physically and psychologically.  A person can experience disappointment, guilt, anger, denial, and fear. 

However, a person’s thoughts during illness don’t always have to be negative.  We can all learn some coping skills, which in turn will help us regain control, build strength and gain peace.

Now that the Winter Solstice is passed and the days are getting longer, we can begin to look forward to the end of winter and the approach of spring. The coming winter/spring season will be a busy one for our NAMI Barrington Area chapter.

There was such a demand for Family-to-Family classes that we will be offering two sections, one meeting in Barrington and the other in Arlington Heights, starting in late January.

One of our goals for this year is to have more social events, chances for Family-to-Family class members to see one another and catch up, chances to get out of the house and talk with folks who understand what mental illness means and who are in similar situations. The dinner we had last August was a great success and so we have another planned for February 12 at 6:00 at St. Anne’s in Barrington. I hope you can join us.

We will also be having a speaker meeting in April. Bruce Kisselstein is an area attorney who specializes in will and estate planning for families of those with mental illness or developmental disabilities. The meeting will be on April 16th at 7:00 in the Board Room at the Barrington Village Hall. If you are concerned about providing for your family member after you are gone, this is a meeting you won’t want to miss.

I would like to take a moment and thank our Board members for all their work in putting this exciting season together. Thank you also to our social committee for putting together what I know will be a wonderful evening. Especial thanks go to our Family-to-Family teachers and assistants. Putting together and running a Family-to-Family class is a huge amount of work, but the benefit to families is enormous. Thank you.

In this edition Mr. Rogers helps us understand two important topics: PASS, in which SSI recipients may set aside income and resources to use in attaining a specific job or starting a business that is likely to result in their becoming more financially independent, and direct deposit, where recipients can have benefits deposited directly to a bank account.

We hope these articles will help you navigate the system.

This month, Part Five: PASS and Direct Deposit

(Or read Part One, Part Two, Part Three or Part Four)

This just in from NAMI National: Support SAMHSA Reauthorization!

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee is scheduled to consider legislation to reauthorize the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) on January 30th. The draft bill includes a package of important initiatives that NAMI has been working on for years, including:
• Expansion of suicide prevention programs,
• Prevention of custody relinquishment,
• Services for homeless individuals with mental illness and
• Efforts to further reduce the use of restraint and seclusion of young people.

Time is short! Illinois Senator Barack Obama is on the HELP Committee. NAMI’s national office is encouraging NAMI members to contact his office (202-224-2854) to ask him to support the SAMHSA reauthorization bill. The Committee is scheduled to vote on the reauthorization bill on January 30th, so folks should call right away.

What to say: You will most likely talk with one of Senator Obama’s staff members. Simply tell him or her that you hope the Senator will support the SAMHSA bill when it comes before the Committee.

Thresholds, Chicago's largest mental health agency, is hoping the new year will be better for their clients. They're working to help consumers build more self-esteem and create relationships that speed their recovery. Thresholds' employees who work at Banana Republic are good examples.

We are a local support group meeting of the Depression Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) in Arlington Heights. Our Monday evening meetings are open to anyone living with depression or bipolar disorder, their family and friends.

There is no charge for our meetings, and our sessions are confidential. Meetings are held from 7.30 to 9.00 pm on Mondays. Although we meet at a church, there is no prayer or bible study as part of our sessions. Curious? Want to know more? Check out our website or contact Leah at mrsn@comcast.net or by calling (847) 541-7754.

This year’s rally/lobbying day will be on Wednesday, May 14. The rally will feature speeches and lots of information as well as chances for those attending to meet in small groups with individual legislators.

If you are frustrated with the inadequate state of Illinois mental health system, and if you are free that day, we hope you will plan on joining us. We must become the people we have been waiting for.

"The HelpLine has been so valuable to me. Knowing that NAMI was there to talk to, to help me cope and understand my choices. It is like light after four years of hell -- thank you!"-- NAMI HelpLine Caller

When people call 800-950-NAMI, the HelpLine staff and volunteers take pride in providing:

• Knowledge through vital, accurate information.
• Support through empathy and understanding.
• Assistance through referrals to the over 1200 local NAMI Affiliates throughout the country and to the many agencies and organizations who serve the needs of people affected by mental illness.

"I want to thank you for the information you sent me. You are making a difference in my life!" -- HelpLine caller

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.

The best way to pass it on is to hit the 'forward email'   button at the bottom. You can write a note when you forward it, and you may also ask your friend to pass it on to others for the same reason. You may mention that if he or she enjoys it, to be sure to hit the 'join our mailing list' button in the right-hand column.

There's no need to worry if your friend lives in the area, as NAMI has chapters throughout the United States. It's a free newsletter. You don't have to be a member to receive it. No one will call, email or otherwise bother new subscribers.

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 gray column to the right, call or send us an email (see below).