| 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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In Our Own Voice
On Tuesday, October 11, from 7 - 9 p.m., NAMI BA members Nora Stankiewicz and Karen Kersch will present In Our Own Voice, a lively mix of personal stories, segments of a video prepared by NAMI's national office and discussion with the audience. The location is the Palatine Public Library, 700 N. North Court, Palatine, IL.
The Housing Task Force, several NAMI chapters and the Palatine/Schaumburg/ Inverness/Rolling Meadows chapter of the League of Women Voters will be sponsoring the event to help raise public awareness about mental illness and mental health issues.
The meeting is open to the general public as well as all NAMI members and members of the League of Women Voters.
We hope you will make every effort to attend. It will be a great way to learn first- hand about the experience of living with and recovering from mental illness as well as some of the difficulties people with mental illness face in our area. No charge - no registration required. Questions? Call 847-496-1415.
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Come One, Come All!
Mental Health Rally in Chicago
This year's Fall Mental Health Rally will be held on October 17, 2011 at Noon in front of the Thompson Center, 100 West Randolph, Chicago. The annual event is sponsored by NAMI Illinois, several local NAMI chapters, by the Mental Health Summit and Mental Health America Illinois. (Details to come on the Summit web page.)
Last Spring's rally was a great success. A crowd of more than 1,000 people gathered at the lunchtime rally to hear the latest mental health news and to send a message to our legislators that our mental health system needs more support from the State. A variety of speakers told personal stories and told the crowd about actions that the legislature needed to take.
This Fall's rally will be just before the Illinois General Assembly's Fall veto session, their last chance to put money into this year's state budget to prevent such things as hospital closures (see accompanying article) and further cuts to community mental health services.
See you there!
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October Events
Saturday, October 1, 9:00a.m. NAMI DKK 5K Run for Mental Health. Run thru downtown Batavia and along the Fox River to benefit NAMI DKK. $25 registration fee. Register online or on site at 7:00a.m. day of race. Email INFO@NAMI5K.COM with any questions.
Wednesday, October 5, 6:30 p.m. NAMI NW Suburban Annual Pizza Fundraiser at Lou Malnati's in Buffalo Grove. There will be all the pizza and salad you can eat, as well as mostaccioli and beverages plus loads of raffle prizes. Dinner tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children under 12. Call 847-899-0195 or email to RSVP.
Beginning on Saturday, October 11 and continuing thru November 15, 6:30p.m. - 9:00p.m. NAMI CCNS hosts NAMI Basics. NAMI Basics is the new signature education program for parents and other caregivers of children and adolescents living with mental illnesses. The NAMI Basics course is taught by trained teachers who are the parent or other caregivers of individuals who developed the symptoms of mental illness prior to the age of 13 years. The class meets at New Trier Northfield High School, 7 Happ Road, Northfield. All instruction materials are FREE to participants. Registration required, please call 847-716-2252.
Thursday, October 6, 12:00p.m. - 1:00p.m. The Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health hosts Advocating For A Lifetime. 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.
Saturday, October 8, 10 a.m. the Legal Representation for People with Mental Illness committee of NAMI Northwest Suburban will meet at the Alexian Center for Mental Health, 3350 Salt Creek Ln., Arlington Hts. All are welcome. We are currently working on an outreach CIT program to educate the police and EMTs, allowing for a more reasoned approach in a mental health intervention. Call Gertie Rodig for information, 847-253-3829.
Tuesday, October 11, 7 - 9 p.m. In Our Own Voice, a lively mix of personal stories, a video presentation and discussion with the audience, presented by NAMI BA members Nora Stankiewicz and Karen Kersch. Sponsored by the Housing Task Force , several NAMI chapters and the Palatine/Schaumburg/ Inverness/Rolling Meadows chapter of the League of Women Voters. At the Palatine Public Library
Monday, October 17, noon. Fall Mental Health Rally in front of the Thompson Center, 100 West Randolph, Chicago. The annual event is sponsored by NAMI Illinois, several local NAMI chapters, by the Mental Health Summit and Mental Health America Illinois. Please join us there.
Wednesday, October 19, 7:00p.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!
Sunday, October 23, 1 p.m., NAMI Tri-affiliate (NW Suburban, BA and Elk Gr./Schaumburg) Fun at One Recreation Group will go to Chicago Botanic Gardens in Glencoe. The group is for 20 + years of age working on mental health recovery. Please RSVP by contacting Dawn at 847-471-4888 or by emailing naminwsub@aol.com.
Sunday, October 23, 8:00a.m. NAMI CCNS Fundraising 5K Walk toincrease public awareness about mental illness. At Blue Star Memorial Woods, Glenview. For additional information on becoming a walker or a sponsor, please get in touch with Patricia Caine at pcaine@rdhs.org or namiccns.walk@gmail.com.
Wednesday, October 26, 7 p.m. NAMI Northwest Suburban invites you to hear Maxim A. Chasonov, M.D. Psychiatry, Medical Director Alexian Brothers Center for Mental Health at ABCMH, 3350 Salt Creek Lane, Suite 114, Arlington Hts. For more information call 847-899-0195 or email naminwsub@aol.com.
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November Events
Thursday, November 3, 12:00p.m. - 1:00p.m. The Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health hosts Keeping Life Real (What parents need to know about trauma). 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.
Wednesday, November 9, 7:00.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!
Sunday, November 20. NAMI CCNS Sundays at One social group (for adults 20 and up) will bowl together. Call Chris Jordan at 847-220-0199 for information and location.
Wednesday, November 30, 7:00.m. NAMI Barrington Area Annual Meeting in the Kildeer Village Hall, 21911 Quentin Road, Kildeer. 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.
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), and 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 for information.
Tuesday, October 18. NAMI Barrington Area family support group meets at 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month at the Lake Villa Assessor's Office (Old Gavin North School), 37850 North IL Route 59, Lake Villa. No charge. No reservation needed. Email tonihoy@comcast.net or helmick6@comcast.net for information.
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Prison the Treatment for Mental Illness
From the Daily Herald September 25
The first hint that Daniel Jason might not fit in with others came when he walked into his kindergarten class with his hands shielding his eyes so he wouldn't have to look at anyone...A good baseball player...a fine college student...he clearly struggled....but of all the places where Daniel has had difficulty fitting in, the numerous jail cells where he's spent all his time since March of 2007 have been the most difficult to endure.
Joe and Nancy Jason have taken their son Daniel's story public-it appeared on page one of Sunday's Daily Herald.
The family's had a really tough time. Daniel's been in prison for over four years. He's not getting treatment or the help he needs to control the behaviors that keep him incarcerated. It's a terrible situation illustrating the failings of our mental heath system.
Read the story.
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Stigma Busting on the Home Front
In the Trench by Toni Hoy
One of the things we did right as adoptive parents was to keep the conversation about the topic of adoption open and ongoing, which gave our adoptive kids a comfort level in talking about it. We realized recently that we have done exactly the same thing in our home with the topic of mental illness without ever realizing it, and that has been a good thing too.
Read this month's In the Trench - on open communications about mental health.
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Toni Hoy Recognized
We're very happy to announce that Safeco Insurance had recognized Toni Hoy as a Community Hero for her work with NAMI Barrington Area, and they have made a $2,000 donation to our chapter on behalf of Toni.
The award recognizes Toni for starting two support groups for parents of children with mental illness, for her "In the Trench" column in this newsletter, her participation in an upcoming documentary "Not Home," and her upcoming book, "Second Time Foster Child."
We're very proud to have Toni so active in NAMI BA and in advocacy.
Read more about the award.
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State Mental Health Hospitals to Close
Legislative Alert by Hugh Brady
As you may have heard, Governor Quinn has called for closing three state mental hospitals and reducing staff in four others. This despite increasing need, and the fact that Cook County Jail is already our largest provider of mental health treatments.
The changes have a 60-day notification requirement, and the clock is already ticking.
The legislation can still intercede. We need people to call or write today.
Learn more about the cuts - and how to contact your representatives.
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NAMI Chicago Walk a Big Success
STILL TIME TO CONTRIBUTE
From the President's Desk by Joseph M. Jason
The NAMI WALK September 18 was a very memorable occasion for me and many others. It was the sixth walk held downtown by NAMI of Greater Chicago. It was my fourth time walking and for many others for our affiliate it was their first.
We had 29 registered walkers and actually had more than that walking. We had beautiful tie die shirts. Thank you Nancy Jason for ordering them and painting NAMI BA on each shirt. It was a lot of work and we appreciate it. Check out our NAMI BA Facebook site to see some pictures. Despite the weather, it appeared that there were over 500 walkers from the various groups.
It was raining before the walk and poured sometime after the walk, but by some miracle, while we were all walking, the rain stopped. The walk by the lake was beautiful and scenic. NAMI BA also demonstrated we are a fit bunch of people. Most importantly, we had fun.
This was the greatest turnout in our affiliate's existence and the most we ever raised. As of 09/24/2011, we were in first place for fundraising and had raised $8,765.00. The entire walk raised $85,426.00. You can still sponsor one of the BA walkers up until 60 days after the event. Just scroll down the list on the Walk website and pick someone.
Thanks to our sponsors for contributing and thanks to the following walkers: Gina, Hugh, Rachel, Raymond, Suzanne, Irene, Janina, Laura, Lorna, Alan, Nancy H, Toni, Diana, Joe, Nancy J, Norma, Maryann, Sarah, Dan, Robert, Trudi, JoAnne, Sean, Mandy, Betty, Elba, Laura, Elly, Barb, and Scott. A special thanks to Mandy for bringing our next generation of walkers.
Join us next year. It's a great way to get some exercise and make a difference in the world. When we find out what the Bears schedule is, you will find out when the NAMI 2012 walk is.
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New Research in Mental Illness
Research Update by Hugh Brady
Two interesting research reports this month:
Brain volume changes in people with schizophrenia. Researchers have long noted that people with schizophrenia seem to have reductions in brain volume as the disease progresses, but no one is sure if that's a cause or symptom of the illness. Two recent narrowly focused, but somewhat contradictory, research studies help shed some light on the situation.
Two studies link genetic changes to schizophrenia and bipolar. Two large scale independent studies have uncovered genetic mutations linked to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and they have found significant genetic overlap between the two disorders. "The big picture is that we still, even after this work, know very little," one of the researches said. "But we know more."
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Participate in Northwestern U Research
Northwestern University is looking for participants for a Schizophrenia Research Project looking at different aspects of the illness using MRI technology, clinical interviews, and cognitive testing. Individuals with schizophrenia, their mothers, and their siblings are encouraged to contact Dr. John Csernansky's research lab at 312-695-8643 to find out which studies they qualify for as participants.
The major goal of this study is to improve understanding of the underlying causes and mechanisms of schizophrenia, especially during its earliest phases. Participants are compensated up to $25 per hour for their time.
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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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