These NAMI classes, starting on Sunday, February 11 (5 - 8 p.m.), 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.

Every Friday in January, NAMI Elk Grove Chapter’s C.A.R.E. consumer support group meets at 7 p.m. For anyone with a mental illness and their families (18 and older). Alexian Brothers Behavioral Hospital,1650 Moon Lake Blvd Hoffman Estates. For information, call Carol at 847-352-6708 or Ruth at 630-497-9737.

Tuesday, January 9, NAMI Barrington Area Chapter family support group, 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the Barrington Area Library. (No charge, no reservation needed.) Call Mary at 847-381-6919 for information.

Thursday, January 11. The NAMI Elk Grove Chapter family support group and the Elk Grove parents of children under 18 support group each meet (separately) at 6:45 p.m. at the Kenneth Young Center, 1001 Rohlwing Rd., Elk Grove. For information on the family group, call Sue at 630-529-3037. For information on the parents group call Chris at 847-687-6623 or Dawn at 847-718-9855

Wednesday, January 17. NAMI Northwest Suburban Chapter family support group meets the third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. Alexian Center for Mental Health, 3350 Salt Creek Lane, Suite 114, Arlington Heights (no reservation, no charge). Call Star at 847-899- 0195 for details.

Thursday, January 18. 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.

Wednesday, January 24. NAMI Northwest Suburban Chapter annual meeting and election of directors, 7:30 p.m. at Alexian Center for Mental Health, 3350 Salt Creek Lane, Suite 114, Arlington Heights (no reservation, no charge). Email NAMINWSub@aol. com or call  847-899-0195 for details.

Friday January 26 and Saturday, January 27. Dr. Ross Greene, author of The Explosive Child, will speak on the topic of explosive, inflexible, easily frustrated children and adolescents. Location: Kenilworth Union Church, 211 Kenilworth Avenue. Times: January 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. and January 26 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (with a lunch break from 12 to 1). This should be an exciting opportunity for caregivers of children and adolescents with these problems. For more information, see listing at NAMI Cook County North Suburban Chapter. No charge. No reservation.

January in DuPage County: NAMI Dupage will begin Family to Family classes Thursday, January 4 in Naperville, Monday, January 8 in Wheaton, and Thursday, January 11 in Hinsdale (all 7 - 9:30 p.m.). They will also start a Visions for Tomorrow class Saturday, January 20 in Naperville (8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.). Call 630-752-0066 for details.

Every Friday in February, NAMI Elk Grove Chapter’s C.A.R.E. consumer support group meets at 7 p.m. For anyone with a mental illness and their families (18 and older). Alexian Brothers Behavioral Hospital,1650 Moon Lake Blvd Hoffman Estates. For information, call Carol at 847-352-6708 or Ruth at 630-497-9737.

Sunday, February 11. N AMI Barrington Area Family to Family class. For families of adults with brain disorders. A 12-week class starting the 11th from 5 - 8 p.m. No charge. Registration required. Call Mary at 847-381-6919.

Tuesday, February 13, NAMI Barrington Area Chapter family support group, 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the Barrington Area Library. (No charge, no reservation needed.) Call Mary at 847-381-6919 for information.

Thursday, February 15. 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.

Wednesday, February 21. 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.

Wednesday, February 28. NAMI Northwest Suburban Chapter presents Bill Karstenson on Trusts and Estate Planning (no reservation, no charge). 7 p.m. at Alexian Center for Mental Health, 3350 Salt Creek Lane, Suite 114, Arlington Heights. Email NAMINWSub@aol. com or call  847-899-0195 for details.

There is no charge for the course, but please call now as space is limited.

Check the February newsletter for starting dates or call Sue to get on the list now.

The NAMI “PEER-to-PEER” (P2P) Course is taught by teams of 3 trained “mentors” or peer-teachers who are themselves experienced at living well with mental illness.

Who can take the course?  The course is designed to offer an opportunity for growth to any individual who experiences mental illness.

Call Fred at 847-304-4212 for a confidential, one-on-one discussion of your needs and the program’s potential value for you and your well-being.

For those of us who have chosen to care for someone, it is sometimes easier to do the caretaking for the “other” than for ourselves.  For me it has often been easier to ignore my own needs and be of service.  But to do that too much and too often is not good for any of us.  We need to replenish our energy often – at least once a week – so that we have the energy, stamina, and kindness that is necessary to keep going and never give up.

So this year I plan to look to my own caretaking more often, and more carefully. For this month's column, I'd like to share some ideas on how you can take better care of yourself, too.

“I’m not a dummy, and anyway, I’m not bipolar,” someone I love told me last year, when I suggested she read this book. The first statement is definitely true; the second very doubtful. This is a book that could help her, and it may help you, too, if you're a consumer with bipolar disorder or someone close to you has the condition.

The “For Dummies” series was never truly meant for dummies. These books simply try to put complex topics in very practical terms. Published in 2005, this book attempts to review the most pertinent, most current thinking on this illness: what a consumer most needs to know about the disorder and how he or she can best get on with life.

Each chapter is lively, relatively short and to the point. The authors take a light touch, finding humor whenever possible. Looking in from the outside, as I do, I thought it was excellent.

State Representative Kathy Ryg was the guest speaker at our annual general membership meeting in November.  She spoke of the poor state of support for mental health programs and facilities in Illinois, the key problem being funding.

She urged us to advocate for better public support for mental health programs and made some suggestions as to how.

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