| 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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Who We Are
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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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Minds on the Edge- Please Join Us
Monday, March 8, 7 p.m.
at the Barrington Village Hall, second floor boardroom
200 South Hough Street, Barrington (parking in rear of building)
Minds on the Edge is a thoughtful examination of the broken mental health systems in the US, and it features a panel discussion of its many disfunctions, irrationalities and underfunding. The film is a kind of serial panel discussion. And what a panel it is: It includes among others US Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer; Avel Gordly an Oregon State Senator and mother of a man with schizophrenia; Dr. Fred Freese, psychologist, consumer and member of NAMI's national board, and Nobel prize winning neurophysiologist Dr. Eric Kandel.
To start the discussion, the moderator creates a brief scenario about a young college student who may have a mental illness and asks one of the panelists to respond. Then he poses the same scenario, but with more complications to another panelist, then more complications to the next panelist, and pretty soon the breadth and depth of mental health care - or the lack thereof - in America is on the table.
We will follow the film with an opportunity for discussion, refreshments and socializing. It will be a great opportunity to meet old friends and Family-to-Family alums.
The film was broadcast on PBS stations across the country last October. But for some reason WTTW, channel 11, in Chicago did not broadcast it. So this may be the Chicago area premiere!
This is a video that will make you think, fill you with hope and inspire you to action. You won't want to miss it!
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New NAMI Connections & Family Groups
NAMI Barrington Area will be starting a NAMI Connections Group and also a Family Support Group:
Thursday March 4, 7 - 9 p.m.
Northwest Community Hospital (Mental Health Network building) 901 Kirchoff, 2nd floor, Arlington Heights
These groups are for consumers of mental health services and their family, partners, and friends. Each will meet every Thursday night starting at 7 on the 2nd floor of the Mental Health Network building.
Support groups can be very helpful, especially for those going through a crisis. There is no charge and you don't need a reservation to attend. Call Nora at (847) 899-NAMI (899-6264) for more information.
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March Events
Monday, March 8, 7:00p.m. Join NAMI BA for a viewing of the PBS film Minds on the Edge: Fighting Mental Illness, an excellent look at America's broken mental health system and the sometimes irrational laws that govern it. At Barrington Village Hall, 200 S Hough St, second floor board room. Free parking in rear of building. Free! No reservation needed. Call Hugh at 847-215-4104 with any questions.
Monday, March 22, time TBD. New Foundation Center Family Support Group Letter Writing Session. Join a group to write letters to state and federal senators, educators, media, etc. Leverage your insights and experience to pressure lawmakers to focus on-and fund-mental health programs, treatment, housing, and research. With questions or for more information, contact Wendy Trafny at New Foundation Center at (847)386-3082 or wtrafny@newfoundationcenter.org
Wednesday, March 24, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. NAMI Barrington Area board meeting in the Barrington Area Library, Large Meeting Room B. Drop in and learn what's going on in the chapter!
Wednesday, March 24, 7:30 p.m. NAMI Northwest Suburban educationl meeting at the Alexian Brothers Center for Mental Health, 3350 Salt Creek Lane, Arlington Heights. For more information call 847-800-0195 or email naminwsub@aol.com.
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April Events
Wednesday, April 21, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. NAMI Barrington Area board meeting - location to be determined. Drop in and learn what's going on in the chapter!
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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 Connections 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). We will also hold a family group on Tuesday, March 9 at the Barrington Area Library (call Mary at 847-381-6919 or Trowby at 847-382-6015) and another family group on Monday, March 22 at Northwest Community Hospital (call Mary 847-381-6919 or Elba 847-963-9330). |
Family to Family Classes
Our Family to Family classes in Barrington and Northwest Community Hospital are off to a good start. The course is highly recommended, and every year the response increases so that the classes reach their maximum enrollment.
Classes do fill, so it's not too early to get your name on the list to assure your place in the next upcoming classes.
Please call Maryrose at 847-496-1415 for more information.
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Breast Cancer and Depression
Research update by Hugh Brady
Breast cancer is depressing enough, but research presented at last summer's convention of the American Society of Clinical Oncology contains some cautions for women who are recovering from breast cancer and who are also taking medication for depression.
In the research study Medco Health solutions, Inc., an insurance benefits management firm, reviewed the medical records of more than 10 million women covered by its policies--women who had undergone treatment for breast cancer and who were taking tamoxifen to prevent recurrence.
They found that women taking tamoxifen and who were also taking a class of anti depressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which include such brands as Paxil, Zoloft and Prozac, were almost twice as likely to see their cancer return as women not taking antidepressants or who were taking other types.
A Dutch study did not show such a link, but the Medco study is highly regarded both for the numbers of women studied and the length of time it followed the women
Is this a cause for alarm? More a cause for concern, noted Dr. Claudine Isaacs, director of the clinical breast cancer program at Georgetown's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center."We can't say anything conclusively but there are options, other types of antidepressants, other types of medications, that don't have that impact. The cautious thing to do is to choose other medications while trying to sort this out."
So what to do? It would seem that the most sensible course of action for women taking both tamoxifen and an SSRI antidepressant should be to consult with their physician.
Need more information? See MedicineNet and About.
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On Veterans & Mental Health Treatment
by Joseph M. Jason
According to a recent article, the problems of mentally-ill veterans are of increasing concern, especially as many of these veterans very often end up in jails rather than treatment programs.
Some states have passed legislation designed to treat, rather than incarcerate veterans with mental-health issues who have committed non-violent crimes. Some communities have adopted law-enforcement policies and training programs to better help these veterans. Still, most do not know where to begin.
I have had the honor of talking with Judge Sol Wachtler, who has been very active in New York on these issues, and I'd like to outline some of the things we can do to help.
Read Joe's article, "Lets Help Our Veterans Get the Mental Health Treatment They Deserve" |
Mental Health Lobby Day Set
Wednesday, May 5 is a day for action. The Mental Health Summit, an umbrella group of mental health service providers and advocacy groups, including NAMI Illinois, has tentatively set this year's mental health lobby day for Wednesday, May 5. Early plans call for two simultaneous rallies, one in Chicago and one in Springfield. The Springfield rally will also include time for participants to meet their legislators in person and make the case for protecting mental health services and fixing Illinois broken budget system.
The Summit plans to provide busses to Springfield from several Chicago area locations. Stay tuned for further details.
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Will Health Reform Help You?
The Bazelon Center for Mental Health has posted some excellent resources on the various mental health reform proposals in Congress and how they may impact mental health care.
"If I Have a Psychiatric Disability Will Health Reform Help Me?" is a summary of the mental health-related provisions in the two bills already passed by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.
The Bazelon Center is urging people read the summary and then contact their two US Senators and their Representative in Congress. Their advice is to think about how the legislation would specifically help you. Then write a short description of it with as much personal information as you feel comfortable sharing, and get it to your two Senators and your member of the House of Representatives. You can send a one-page letter or an email, or you can telephone and speak with a member of the lawmaker's staff.
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Illinois' Budget Crisis Worsens
Legislative Update - by Hugh Brady
It may be hard to believe, but Illinois' budget problems continue to get worse. As short a time ago as the last issue of News and Notes from NAMI Barrington Area, Illinois' budget shortfall was being projected at $11 billion. Now estimates are in the $13 billion range. That means Illinois will take in $13 billion less in taxes than it would have to spend to keep state programs funded at current levels. That deficit is out of a total budget in the $30 billion range.
There are solutions to the problem - read more.
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Obama Administration Addressing Mental Health Issues
Washington Update by Hugh Brady
According to a recent report in Psychiatric Times, there has been an increasing emphasis on mental health issues by the Obama administration in the past year. Speeches by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, as well as the appointment of several well-known mental health advocates to in other top positions are showing that the federal government is taking a renewed interest in mental health and mental illness.
Read more. |
NAMI BA Welcomes New VP
NAMI Barrington Area has a new Vice President, Joe Jason. Joe was elected in absentia at the January meeting of NAMI BA's Board of Directors, and he accepted the position at our February meeting. Joe has been involved in NAMI for several years and has been on the Board for two years. He is especially interested in political advocacy and has taken charge of several letter writing campaigns already. Welcome Joe!
So now NAMI BA's leadership team for 2010 is complete:
Hugh Brady President
Joe Jason Vice President
Sue Kluk Treasurer
Joanne Jacobsen Secretary
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Off to a Great Start
From the President's Desk by Hugh Brady
NAMI BA is off to a great start in 2010: We have two Family to Family classes up and running. We are training more support group leaders and Family-to-Family teachers. We are starting weekly Connections and family support groups. We had a great movie night in January and will have another March 8. In addition, we began a quarterly regular-mail newsletter for members.
None of this would have been possible without the help and hard work of the many F2F teachers, facilitators, writers, phone callers and schedulers, board members and volunteers. NAMI is making a real difference in the lives of people with mental illness and their families. Thank you to everyone who has made this possible.
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Mark Your Calendars - May 1st Event
Please join us for an afternoon with NAMI Barrington Area. Shop and Socialize for the NAMI cause.
Saturday, May 1-12:00 - 4:00 p.m.
111 Grille - Barrington Ice House
200 Appleby St., Barrington
$20 ticket includes appetizers and drink
Featured products include Mia Sophia, Stella and Dot Jewelry, Mary Kay Cosmetics, KA Designz handbags, pillows & gifts, Pampered Chef cookware, Tastefully Simple gourmet foods, Chuck Horseburger birdhouses, PartyLite candles & gifts.
Tickets at the door or in advance. Call Steph for information at (847)732-2573.
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Volunteers Needed for Bipolar Study
One of NAMI's mission goals is to support research aimed at improving the lives of people dealing with a mental illness.
Comprehensive NeuroScience, Inc. is seeking volunteers to participate in a clinical trial evaluating the safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of adding a currently marketed medication to ongoing treatment for bipolar depression.
In order to qualify, subjects must be 18 - 65 years old, have had at least one past episode of mania, have current depression being treated with Lithium, Depakote and/or Zyprexa, have no additional psychiatric diagnoses other than manic-depression, be in generally good health without any recent alcohol or drug abuse.
To learn more contact Debra at (847) 813-1321
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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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Other Helpful Resources
OCD Chicago for help with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
RX for Illinois or Partnership for Prescription Assistance for help with prescription drug costs.
NAMI Help Line (agency referrals): 800-950-NAMI (6264)
The DMH Warm Line offers peer support to mental health consumers and families (MF 8-5) 866-359-7953
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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.
The best way to pass it on is to 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.
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. Membership form
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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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