July 2011

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

NAMI National Convention in Chicago

The NAMI National Convention is coming to Chicago - at the Chicago Hilton Hotel, 720 S. Michigan, July 6-9.

Always interesting, inspiring and very helpful, with plenty of great information for consumers, family members and professionals, the convention is a 'must do' this year, since it's so close.

The complete schedule and program are online here. Advanced registration required.

Registration Open: Family to Family

It's a good time to register for our September Family to Family classes in Barrington and at Northwest Community Hospital.

At Northwest Community. Wednesdays starting Sept 6, 6-9p.m.

In Barrington. Starting date to be determined. Evenings 6-9p.m.

Family to Family is a series of 12 weekly classes structured to help you understand and support individuals with mental disorders while maintaining your own well being.

A recent study by the University of Maryland School of Medicine found that the class significantly improves coping with mental illness, offering concrete, practical benefits to help family members, partners and friends play a critical role in the treatment and recovery of loved ones. "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. Call Maryrose at 847-496-1415 to register or to learn more.

July Events

Wednesday, July 6 - Saturday, July 9, all day. 2011 NAMI National Convention in Chicago. Come for top-notch researchers and clinicians providing information and tools to advance and sustain recovery from mental illness; the country's keenest minds and savviest policymakers offering strategies and tactics to effectively advocate for changing the mental health system in our nation; abundant networking opportunities so we can learn from each other on how to make change on the local level. At Chicago Hilton Hotel, 720 S. Michigan. Registration and fee required. Although online registration is now closed, on-site registration will be open on Wednesday, July 6 at 8:30 a.m.

Thursday, July 7, 12:00p.m. - 1:00p.m. The Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health hosts The Family Meeting (Crisis planning and family communication). These educational calls are offered to all parents in Illinois who have a child with an emotional and/or behavioral concern. The calls focus on giving parents information they need to advocate for and support their children. Toll free: (800) 260-0712 Participant Access Code: 120964. For questions, please call (618) 838-9382.

Sunday, July 10 at 2p.m. (Note change!) The Arlington Heights Young Adults Depression Bipolar Support Alliance will host their Snack & Yack on at the Arlington Heights Corner Bakery. Ages 17 - 24 welcome. Parents of youth will meet same time, same place, different tables! Ask servers for Leah's tables and contact her in advance for further info at mrsn@comcast.net or 847-541-7754. Bring some money for a snack.

Thursday, July 14, 7p.m. Planning meeting for new social/ recreational group (or groups) for those in recovery. At the First United Methodist Church of Palatine, 123 N. Plum Grove Road. Sponsored by NAMI Northwest Suburban, Barrington Area and Elk Grove/ Schaumburg. Please call Dawn at 847-471-4888 or email naminwsub@aol.com for more info or to RSVP. (Let her know if you need transportation.)

Wednesday, July 20, 7p.m. NAMI Barrington Area board meeting in the Kildeer Village Hall, 21911 Quentin Road, Kildeer. Drop in and learn what's going on in the chapter!

Saturday, July 23 at 2p.m. The Arlington Heights Young Adult Depression Bipolar Support Alliance will host their first ever Badminton for Short People. (Group is comprised of young adults 17-24) Contact Leah for further info and location at mrsn@comcast.net or847-541-7754.

August Events

Thursday, August 4, 12:00p.m. - 1:00p.m. The Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health hosts BFF-We All Need Friends. These educational calls are offered to all parents in Illinois who have a child with an emotional and/or behavioral concern. The calls focus on giving parents information they need to advocate for and support their children. Toll free: (800) 260-0712 Participant Access Code: 120964. For questions, please call (618) 838-9382.

Sunday, August 7 at 2p.m. The Arlington Heights Young Adults Depression Bipolar Support Alliance will host their Snack & Yack on at the Arlington Heights Corner Bakery. (Group members are 17 - 24.) Parents of youth will meet same time, same place, different tables! Ask servers for Leah's tables and contact her in advance for further info at mrsn@comcast.net or 847-541-7754. Bring some money for a snack.

Wednesday, August 17, 7p.m. NAMI Barrington Area board meeting in the Kildeer Village Hall, 21911 Quentin Road, Kildeer. Drop in and learn what's going on in the chapter!

Beginning Tuesday, August 23, 7:00 - 9:30p.m. and continuing for 12 weeks NAMI DKK presents Family-to-Family classes. At the Congregational United Church of Christ, St. Charles. To register, call Jenny at Denise at 630-405-9336.

Tuesday, August 30, 6:30p.m. Join NAMI DKK for a picnic and a ballgame! The Kane County Cougars vs. Peoria Chiefs is the setting for a fundraiser to benefit The Friends of Mental Health Treatment Alternative Court. $30 includes all you can eat pre-game picnic and ballgame ticket. Order deadline is Tuesday, August 9. For more information contact Shawn Touney at (630) 232-8811 or stouney@kanecountycougars.com.

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) plus NAMI PACT dual groups for parents and younger teens, 10 and older, the first and third Friday of the month, also at Northwest Community. (Note - no meeting July 1. Call Toni at 847-804-2088 for information weeknights).

Living with Schizophrenia: A Call for Hope and Recovery

A film we recommend

"Living with Schizophrenia explores the lives of three individuals with schizophrenia, a chronic brain disorder that can be severe and disabling. The film, aimed at reducing the fear and stigma associated with schizophrenia, tells the stories about living with schizophrenia that do not make the headlines - stories of hope and promise."

Learn more about schizophrenia survivors, and watch the film.

On the same topic - Choices in Recovery - a wonderful website offering support and information for schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder.

New Recreation Groups Starting

by Venus Gintowt and Star Roberts, Co-Presidents, NAMI Northwest Suburban

Do you know a person working on recovery who would like to get out more?

It may be someone in your family or a friend. They probably have ideas of what would be fun...outdoor events such as Frisbee, miniature golf or maybe a concert. Or they may enjoy indoor events such as bowling, movies or just meeting at a restaurant or mall.

Whatever it would be, we invite all those 18 and over who are interested in planning such a group (or possibly two groups, depending on age) for social outings, to a meeting sponsored by NAMI Northwest Suburban, Barrington Area and Elk Grove/ Schaumburg on Thursday, July 14^th at 7:00 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church of Palatine, 123 N. Plum Grove Road, just across the Metra Track going west on Plum Grove Rd. in Palatine.

We will aim for having participants arrange for meeting times and places of the first few outings, as well as for transportation to and from those outings.

Please call Dawn at 847-471-4888 or email naminwsub@aol.com for more info or to RSVP. Please let us know if you would need transportation to this first planning meeting.

The Curtain Call on Stigma

In the Trench by Toni Hoy

Did you ever read an article about someone with a mental illness and wonder how the writer got it so wrong? The very headline can send you reeling! Did you respond by getting into a conversation with other bloggers? Did the comments overrule the original intent of the piece? Can knowledgeable bloggers spin an article?

Not too long ago, I entered into cyber conversation that was designed specifically to attack a mother of a mentally ill child. One of the men emailed me privately afterwards, and asked why I purposely entered a conversation in which I was clearly the minority. I answered him quite honestly. I was practicing on them.

As mental health advocates, it's important to "know your stuff." I encourage you to be well-rehearsed for the finale, so you can bring down the house and close the final curtain on mental health stigma. And that deserves a standing ovation.

Read more in this month's In the Trench

NAMIWalks Coming September 18

by Joseph M. Jason, President, NAMI BA

We are excited to announce that NAMIWalks Chicago 2011 has been scheduled for September 18, 2011.

Sign up now to help support our efforts in spreading mental health awareness, eliminating stigma, and raising funds to support Barrington NAMI. The proceeds allow us to continue offering free programs & services to those in need.

As President of NAMI BA and Chairman of the Criminal Justice Action Committee, I see such a great need for our services. We have so many great volunteers who teach needed classes such as family to family, who run support groups, who advocate, prepare our monthly newsletter and volunteer for other activities. Our membership is growing and as a result we need a larger budget to continue our invaluable work. For example our binders for family to family cost $30.00 to make. It costs money to make and distribute brochures. All of our services are free. Please support us. We serve many other communities outside of the Barrington area.

The day will start with sign-in at 11:00 am , and the walk will step off at noon. It's a beautiful 3.1 mile walk and the weather has always cooperated every year. To date we have five walkers for NAMI BA and hope to get at least twenty five. Our walkers to date include Hugh Brady, Nancy Harju, Maryann Mahlman, Mickey Daniel, Toni Hoy and myself. Many others have said they will walk.

Please join us.

Mental Health Takes It on the Chin

Legislative Alert by Hugh Brady

The Illinois General Assembly adjourned on schedule at the end of May, and the results were not good for people with mental illness. The budget for the Department of Human Services (DHS), from which community mental health service get most of its funding, was cut by more than 17%. And that's a cut over the previous year, not a reduction in a proposed increase.

Part of the problem is the legislators are not hearing from us. You may have read in the news that there was a huge effort in the General Assembly to cut teachers' pensions. But, according to the Illinois Education Association, more than 90,000 people contacted their state legislators to oppose the pension cuts, and the legislators bucked under the pressure.

Now I know that many of you called or wrote to your legislators to oppose the mental health cuts, but not enough of us did. We're only making a small fraction of the calls that teachers did about their pensions. Still, the numbers affected by mental illness in Illinois are far higher than the number of teachers...the generally accepted figure is that about 6% of the population suffers from a major mental illness, or about 750,000 consumers, nearly all with at least one family member who supports them.

About 70% of teachers contacted their legislators to oppose the pension cuts. If 7% of family members would do the same, we would crash the system. It's not an impossible situation. We just need to make ourselves heard.

Read this month's Legislative Alert

Untreated Mental Illness and Homelessness

From NAMI Illinois by Hugh Brady

People who work at area homeless shelters will tell you that many homeless people also suffer from mental illness. How many? About a third of the 750,000 homeless people in the United States, most of them with an untreated mental illness.

Why is this? Part of the reason is a shortage of treatment options, made worse by recent budget cuts.

The irony is that the cuts do not save money. It costs more than $40,000 a year to keep someone with mental illness homeless and on the street-about double the cost of supportive housing.

Why so much? Homeless people with mental illness are often caught in a very expensive revolving door of homeless shelters, arrest, court appearances, jail, and short hospital stays, all of which cost money and don't help a person with mental illness recover.

Learn how you can help.

The Injustice of Incarceration of Our Mentally Ill

From the President's Desk by Joseph M. Jason

This month I'd like to express some of my frustration in my son's incarceration. He is in Indiana in federal prison. I do not know if he is getting any treatment. I don't know when he is getting out. I am not allowed to visit him.

His case is not unique. He is not the only young man sentenced to a long term in prison for non-violent crimes.

Do you want to make a difference? Join NAMI BA and see what the Criminal Justice Action Committee is doing.

Read this month's President's Desk

More Senseless Tragedies

From NAMI Illinois by Hugh Brady

You may have read in the news recently about three murders, one incident involved the murder of an elderly couple in Marengo, and the other the murder of an older man in Arlington Heights. According to the news reports, the murders were committed by men with a history of mental illness, and neither of them seem to have been in treatment at the time.

And what has our Illinois state legislature done to keep these terrible crimes from happening again?

"Well," say our legislators, "We have to reduce costs. We have to balance the budget."

Learn more

Genetics and Depression

Research Update by Hugh Brady

For decades researchers have been trying to find genetic links to various mental illnesses, but the search has been frustrating and suspect genes elusive.

Recent research in genetics and depression seems to be much more promising, however. Working independently on different groups of test subjects, a British led research team and an American group from Washington University in St. Louis have each identified the same DNA region on part of one chromosome that appears to be closely associated with depression.