| 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 to Start
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 and Arlington Heights areas. Classes will begin in January and February. Please call 847-496-1415 now for information or to register.
Elgin. Begins Saturday, February 11, 10:00a.m. - 12:30p.m. presented by NAMI Kane County North. At Provena St. Joseph Hospital, Lower Level (St. Mary's Room), 77 N. Airlite St., Elgin. Free. Registration required. Contact Laurie Huske at (847) 695-7957 or lauriehuske@wowway.com or Lachell Jeffries at (224) 325-8838.
Evanston. Begins Saturday, February 4, 9 - 11:30 a.m., presented by NAMI CCNS at the Evanston Civic Center. Free, but registration required - call 847-716-2252.
Northfield. Begins Wednesday, March 7, 7 - 9:30 p.m., presented by NAMI CCNS at New Trier Northfield High School. Free, but registration required - call 847-716-2252.
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New Family Support Group in Kildeer
We're very happy to announce that NAMI Barrington Area will begin a new family support group January 18 in Kildeer.
The group will meet the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Kildeer Village building, 21911 Quentin Road.
There's no charge to attend and no need to make a reservation. If you feel you need some help or just want to talk, please join us. (Or call Nancy at 537-3009 for more information.)
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NAMI Basics Begins in March
NAMI Basics is a new education program for parents and other caregivers of children and adolescents living with mental illnesses.
The course consists of six classes that meet weekly for two and half hours per class. They are led by two facilitators who themselves have had the experience of having a young child or adolescent live with the symptoms of mental illness. "Parents play a critical role in treatment and recovery of the children they love."
NAMI Barrington Area will offer Basics for the first time in March (moved back from February). We are finalizing dates and a location in the northwest suburbs now. Please call 847-496-1415 for information or to register.
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January Events
Dates and times to be finalized. Family to Family in Barrington and Arlington Heights areas. Please call 847-496-1415 now for information or to register.
Saturday, January 7 at 10 a.m. The Legal Representation for People with Mental Illness meeting at Alexian Center for Mental Health, 3350 Salt Creek Lane, Arlington Hts. Call 847-253-3829 for information.
Sunday, January 8 at 2 p.m. The Arlington Heights Young Adult Depression Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) will meet at the Corner Bakery for their monthly Snack & Yack. PARENTS will have their own facilitated group at the same location and time but at separate tables. For details about either group, contact Leah at mrsn@comcast.net or 847-541-7754.
Saturday, January 21 at 2 p.m. The Arlington Heights Young Adult Depression Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) will meet for a Monopoly, Clue, Scrabble Tournament. PARENTS will have their own facilitated group at the same location and time but in a separate place. For location and details about either group, contact Leah at mrsn@comcast.net or 847-541-7754.
Sunday, January 22, 2012, 1:00 p.m. NAMI NWS and NAMI BA invite all those working on mental health recovery to join the Fun at One Recreation Group for lunch at the Barnaby's Family Inn in Arlington Hts. at 933 W. Rand Road. Then those who want to bowl will head over to Arlington Lanes Bowling at 3435 N. Kennicott Rd. (near Dundee and Kennicott). February's outing is still in the planning. Please call Dawn at 847-471-4888 for more information or email naminwsub@aol.com
Wednesday, January 25, 6:45 p.m. NAMI Northwest Suburban will hold their Annual Meeting at Alexian Brothers Center for Mental Health, 3350 Salt Creek Lane, Suite 114, Arlington Hts. Board Directors for the new year will be elected and members will vote on the 2012 Budget. Our guest speaker for the evening will be Dr. Joseph Novak, Director of Northwest Community Hospital Mental Health Network. For more information, please call 847-899-0195 or email naminwsub@aol.com.
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February Events
Starting Saturday, February 11. Family to Family in Elgin. Please call Laurie Huske at 847-695-7957 or email lauriehuske@wowway.comnow for information or to register.
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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 Connection 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), a NAMI PACT group for parents the first and third Friday of the month, also at Northwest Community (call Toni at 847-804-2088 weeknights), a new family support group in Kildeer the third Wednesday of each month, 7 p.m., at the Kildeer Village building, 21911 Quentin Road, Kildeer (call Nancy at 537-3009), a new family support group in Lake Villa the third Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m., at the Lake Villa Assessor's Office, 37850 North Route 59 (email tonihoy@comcast.net or helmick6@comcast.net) and a new support group for spouses and significant others the first Monday of each month (call 847-496-1415 for information).
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In the Trench
Welcome to Holland - by Toni Hoy
Several years ago, two of my children had the opportunity to perform Irish dance on a cruise ship in the Caribbean. It was an opportunity of a lifetime. Our trip included several stops, and we were bummed that unrest in Haiti forced us to skip a day at the beach there. We were bummed, but the extra time gave us a chance to see whales swimming and, for me, some one-on-one time with my son.
None of us knows what 2012 will bring, but even a crisis can allow us to "re-route" in positive ways...
Read the January In the Trench
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The Mentally Ill Are Flooding Our Emergency Rooms
We need to reverse the cuts of mental health care now. From the President's Desk - by Joseph M. Jason
Illinois has cut spending on mental health needs dramatically, but Illinois is not alone.
Now we are seeing the results of what Illinois and other states have done-a 20% increase in psychiatric emergencies throughout the country plus an increase in serious suicide attempts, while hospitals have trouble coping with the influx of new patients.
It would make more fiscal sense if we increased funding for treatment rather than paying for more costly emergency room visits, incarcerations and homeless services - as well as saving pain and suffering. It's time to follow NAMI's recommendations and restore the cuts now.
Read more in From the President's Desk for January
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Studies Look at Genetics and at Violence
Research Update by Hugh Brady
Two very interesting topics in the news this month.
First, the Mount Sinai School of Medicine has been looking at the genetic links between Bi-Polar and Schizophrenia, finding fresh insights that may lead to new treatment options. Read more about what they've learned.
Second, a very interesting study recently published by Steven Segal of the University of California looks at some of the social and demographic factors that influence the differing homicide rates from state to state. Not surprisingly, he found that factors such as substance abuse, the proportion of young males in the population and poverty rates were the most significant predictors of homicide rates. But the most interesting findings were the factors that were close behind, and they all had to do with the state's mental health system: The weaker the mental health system, the fewer psychiatric beds and the narrower the civil commitment laws, the higher the murder rate. Read more.
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Criminal Justice and Legal Representation Committees Merge
by Joseph Jason
The Criminal Justice Action Committee and the Legal Representation of the Mentally Ill Committee have merged.
The mission statement for the new group: The need for properly informed legal aid has been lacking for the mentally ill for decades in Illinois. The Legal Representation for the Mentally Ill Committee has been established to seek legal parity for the mentally ill in situations with the police, hospitals, court systems, and other issues.
We will be proactive by enhancing mental health education, awareness, and civil rights. We will collaborate with the Illinois Department of Mental Health and local communities to highlight our existence through publicity.
We wish to help develop Crisis Intervention Teams (CITs) and other methods of improving the interactions between the criminal justice system and people with mental illness.
We aim to set up a Mental Health advisory department in Cook County, as it exists in Harris County (TX), Alabama, Vermont, and New York.
Meetings are held every two weeks on Saturdays at 10'oclock a.m. at Alexian Center for Mental Health, 3350 Salt Creek Lane-Suite #114, Arlington Heights. The next meeting is on January 7. Please join us and help make a difference.
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When People with Schizophrenia Don't Recognize Their Illness
from Everyday Health Magazine
"Half of all people with schizophrenia don't recognize that they're sick," says Ken Duckworth, MD, medical director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness and an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston.
Also called "lack of insight," anosognosia is a major obstacle for people with schizophrenia. If you're a caregiver for someone with schizophrenia, you know how true this rings...It's not denial...you can't convince someone with schizophrenia and anosognosia that they need help...but doing some homework can help ease that frustration...
What to do when someone doesn't recognize he or she is illl - read the article
Everyday Health also recently published an interesting piece on the symptoms of schizophrenia
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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. (Just 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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