NAMI CARES
Concern, Advocacy, Research, Education, Support
March 2012
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NAMI DKK General Meeting
Speaker: Karen Beyer, Director of Ecker Center for Mental Health
Topic: Lack of funding for mental health programs
in the State of Illinois, HMO's,
and other topics of interest to NAMI
Saturday, March 24, 2012
9:00 am - Coffee* and Conversation
9:30 am - Speaker
Speaker will be followed by a brief annual meeting
to elect Officers and Board Members for the coming year
Dunleavy-Walsh Meeting Room
Provena Mercy Behavioral Health Building
1325 North Highland Ave
Aurora, IL 50506
*Coffee and light refreshments will be served 
Nominations for Officers for 2012: Nominations for Board of Directors:
President: Phyllis Graeser Phyllis Graeser
Vice-President: Nina Finch Nina Finch
Secretary: Mary Ihnenfeld Mary Ihnenfeld
Treasurer: Wally Deuchler Wally Deuchler
Suzanne Deuchler
Jim McNish
Denise Edwards
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Latest Suicide Data: An Analysis
Suicide rate increasing
The latest data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that 36,909 suicide deaths were reported in the U.S. in 2009. This latest rise places suicide again as the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S. Nationally, the suicide rate increased 2.4 percent over 2008 to equal approximately 12.0 suicides per 100,000 people. The rate of suicide has been increasing since 2000. This is the highest rate of suicide in fifteen years.
Facts and Figures
~Every 14.2 minutes someone in the United States dies by suicide.
~Nearly 1,000,000 people make a suicide attempt every year.
~90% of people who die by suicide have a diagnosable and treatable psychiatric disorder at the time of their death.
~Most people with mental illness do not die by suicide.
~Recent data puts yearly medical costs for suicide at nearly $100 million (2005).
~Men are nearly 4 times more likely to die by suicide than women. Women attempt suicide 3 times as often as men. Click here to view.
~Suicide rates are highest for people between the ages of 40 and 59. Click here to view.
~White individuals are most likely to die by suicide, followed by Native American peoples. Click here to view.
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Connection Recovery Support Group
For People living with Mental Illnesses such as Depression, Bipolar, OCD, etc.
NAMI Connections Support Group for People with Mental Illnesses is a weekly recovery support group in which people learn from each others' experiences, share coping strategies, and offer each other encouragement and understanding. Now meeting WEEKLY! Wednesday evenings from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm Provena Mercy Behavioral Health Building 1325 North Highland Ave Aurora, IL 50506
Please call Denise at 630-405-9336 or NAMI DKK at 630-896-6264 for more information or if you are interested in joining the group. Back to Top
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When You Fear Someone May Take His/Her Life
How to RespondMost suicidal individuals give some warning of their intentions. The most effective way to prevent a friend or loved one from taking his or her life is to recognize the factors that put people at risk for suicide, take warning signs seriously and know how to respond.
Be Willing to Listen
1. Start by telling the person you are concerned and give him/her examples.
2. If he/she is depressed, don't be afraid to ask whether he/she is considering suicide, or if he/she has a particular plan or method in mind.
3. Ask if they have a therapist and are taking medication.
4. Do not attempt to argue someone out of suicide. Rather, let the person know you care, that he/she is not alone, that suicidal feelings are temporary and that depression can be treated.
5. Avoid the temptation to say, "You have so much to live for," or "Your suicide will hurt your family."
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NAMI BasicsNew Session of NAMI Basics starting 
The fundamentals of caring for you, your family and your child with mental illness
A FREE six week education course taught by parents/caregivers of children and adolescents with mental illness.
Classes include:
· Introduction - it's not your fault
· The biology of mental illness
· Treatment works
· Problem solving skills
· How to work within systems (school,
juvenile justice, mental health)
· Shared stories
April 15 - May 20, 2012
2:00 p.m - 4:30 p.m.
Provena Mercy Medical Center
1325 North Highland Avenue
Aurora, IL 60506
Registration is required
To register please call Carol: 630-947-4430
or Karen: 630-664-9103 or
NAMI DeKalb, Kane South & Kendall Counties
400 Mercy Lane, Aurora, IL 60506
630-896-6264
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~Held the last Saturday of each month ~Location will rotate between local mental health providers ~There will be coffee, lite refreshments and a speaker ~There will be time to socialize ~All are welcome! 
NEXT COFFEE
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Coping with Suicide Loss
What Do I Do Now?If you have lost someone to suicide, the first thing you should know is that you are not alone. Each year over 34,000 people in the United States die by suicide -- the devastated family and friends they leave behind are known as "survivors." There are millions of survivors who, like you, are trying to cope with this heartbreaking loss.
Survivors often experience a wide range of grief reactions, including some or all of the following:
~Shock is a common immediate reaction. You may feel numb or disoriented, and may have trouble concentrating.
~Symptoms of depression, including disturbed sleep, loss of appetite, intense sadness, and lack of energy.
~Anger towards the deceased, another family member, a therapist, or yourself.
~Relief, particularly if the suicide followed a long and difficult mental illness.
~Guilt, including thinking, "If only I had...."
~These feelings usually diminish over time, as you develop your ability to cope and begin to heal.
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Yorkville's Support Group
NAMI DKK adds another support group for families
~For family members/loved ones of someone living with a mental illness ~Meets once a month "Using the support group model is so essential to the success of our family support groups. Without the training, networking, and support of the group members I fear that support groups would become nothing more than "cry" sessions or "gripe" sessions. As a group the collective wisdom covered a lot of possibilities towards the issues." 2nd Tuesday of the Month 7:00 to 8:30 pm Yorkville Congregational Church 409 Center Parkway, Yorkville, IL 60560 If interested call Carrie 630-779-4933
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Budgets Reflect Values
Written by AJ French, CRSS
This mental health commentary was shared by AJ French, a NAMI member from Southwestern Illinois, and founder of Sacred Creations. It was published in The Telegraph, a southern Illinois newspaper, as part of AJ's ongoing commentary about mental health issues and concerns. (Published in NAMI Illinois E-News on March 7, 2012)
I was privileged to be present at the Capital during Governor Quinn's annual budget address and in attendance at the budget briefing which followed later that afternoon. I must say, I was genuinely impressed with the Governor's use of person-first language as he described "people with mental health challenges." My warm sentiments, however, both begin and end with those five little words.
The Governor proposed an astronomical twenty-three percent cut in Medicaid while Julie Hamos, Director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, presented a "Menu of Possible Options for Medicaid Liability and Reduction" that included nothing which was easily digestible.
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NAMI-DKK
Family-to-Family
 The NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program is a free, 12-week course for family caregivers of individuals with severe mental illnesses.
The course is taught by trained family members
All instruction and course materials are free to class participants
Over 115,000 family members have graduated from this national program
THE NEXT CLASS BEGINS:
Tuesday May 29, 2012
continuing weekly through Aug 14, 2012
Provena Mercy Medical Center
1325 North Highland Avenue
Aurora, IL 60506
Classes are free
Registration is required
To register call Denise at 630-405-9336
or NAMI DKK office: 630-896-6264
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Coming Events
NAMIDKK Board Meeting -
The next meeting will be April 9, 2012.
Wednesdays: NAMI Connections Recovery Support Group from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm (details)
March 20, 2012 - NAMI Support Group meets in Aurora 7:00 pm (details)
March 24, 2012 - NAMI DKK General Meeting 9:00 am to 11:00 am (details)
April 5, 2012 - NAMI Support Group meets in St. Charles 7:00 pm (details)
April 10, 2012 - NAMI Support Group meets in Yorkville 7:00 pm (details)April 28, 2012 - NAMI DKK Saturday Coffee 9:30 am to 11:00 am (details)May 29, 2012 - Family-to-Family Classes begin (details) Save the Date: June 27-30, 2012 - NAMI National Convention in Seattle, WA (details) October 6, 2012 - NAMI DKK 5 K Run for Mental Health |
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Other Events in the Area
Events of Interest in our Communities
April 27, 2012 - PIAT (Piecing It All Together) Conference at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills. more information September 12th - 13th, 2012 - Supportive Housing Conference and Supportive Housing Bus Tour September 11th
Saint Paul RiverCentre
175 W Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, Minnesota
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NAMI Convention Scholarships
How Children's Mental Health & Mental Illness Affects Home, School & Community
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) scholarship application for the 2012 NAMI National Convention is now available.
CMHS provides the scholarship to financially support people with mental illnesses who wish to participate in the NAMI National Convention.
The application can also be found under FAQs online at www.nami.org/convention
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March Fast Fact
Although most gun owners reportedly keep a firearm in their home for "protection" or "self defense," 83 percent of gun-related deaths in these homes are the result of a suicide, often by someone other than the gun owner.
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Educating the Educators
Legislative Alert by Hugh Brady
Although half of all people who develop mental illness show symptoms by the time they are 14, the signs and symptoms are not addressed in teacher training or special education.
That's unfortunate because students with mental illness (are) in our classroom. Teachers don't know it, don't recognize it and don't know what to do about it.
But there's a bill in Springfield that may help. It's HB4495 which would require in-service training on the basic facts of mental illness and how to recognize early symptoms. The hope is to prevent a lot of suffering and make a difference in the number of teen suicides.
Learn more in this month's Legislative Alert.
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Help for Parents
Free training and information by phone
Tele-training:Free training by phone
Family Matters Parent Training and Information Center is announcing free Teleconference training sessions for Parents through the end of March. A partial list of topics for the training sessions: ~Special Education Basics - The Evaluation Process ~Suspensions and Expulsions of Students Receiving Special Ed Services ~Special Education Basics - Creating the IEP Events are open to parents, grandparents, foster parents, caregivers, teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, therapists, educational surrogate parents or any interested party. Family Matters also offers in person trainings, a phone line for questions and other resources for those who are looking for help with a child with special needs. More information on Family Matters upcoming eventsParent Empowerment Calls Parent Empowerment Calls are educational calls offered to all parents in Illinois who have a child with an emotional and/or behavioral concern, and focus on giving parents information they need to advocate for and support their children. Schedule of Topics for 2012: April 5: Stages of Emotional Response to Trauma May 3: Becoming a System leader June 7: Families, ETC-One Family Run Organization Calls are held at Noon each month and are sponsored by the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Mental Health Child and Adolescent Services. Call-in information changes each month. Be sure to check NAMI Illinois Event page for updated information on these calls. Back to Top |
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Disney Star talks about her Mental Illness
Demi Lovato: Bipolar But Staying Strong
 Demi Lovato is a 19-year-old Disney star best known for her role in the made-for-television movie Camp Rock. She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2011 while receiving inpatient treatment at Timberline Knolls in Illinois. Last night, MTV premiered a documentary about Lovato entitled "Stay Strong." In it, Lovato chose to share her story as a way to help others dealing with similar issues. "Why not air all my secrets? Why not share my story because some people need to hear it?" more of her story
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Viewers' CornerThe New Normal: Actress Claire Danes, "Homeland" and Hollywood's New Take on Mental Illness
By Courtney Reyers, NAMI Publications Manager
 Showtime's original series Homeland is one of the first TV shows to feature a female protagonist living with bipolar disorder-and one many say isn't wholly defined by her illness. Golden Globe winner Claire Danes ( My So-Called Life, Temple Grandin, Romeo + Juliet) plays CIA officer Carrie Mathison in Showtime's thriller-drama series based around homeland security, terrorism and politics. The first season, which premiered in 2011, follows Carrie's efforts to uncover a U.S. Marine who is thought to have been turned while trying to target an Al-Qaeda kingpin while she struggles with (and hides) her mental illness from everyone but her sister. Read the rest of the reviewBack to Top |
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NAMI National Convention
Dr. Linehan featured speaker
Dr. Marsha Linehan-best known for her groundbreaking work with borderline personality disorder and as the founder of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)-will be a featured presenter at the 2012 NAMI National Convention. Dr. Linehan, who last year revealed to the New York Times that she herself has faced mental illness, will host a symposium where she will discuss DBT, its origin and applications to the expanding inclusion of other disorders, as well as BPD.
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NAMIDKK
Vision Statement
VISION: NAMI-DKK is dedicated to the eradication of the stigma of mental illness by improving the quality of life of all those striving for mental health wellness.
NAMIDKK
Mission Statement
MISSION: The mission of NAMI-DKK is to provide support education and advocacy for persons, family members and communities dealing with mental health issues
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Forward This Newsletter
PLEASE PASS THIS ON
If you know someone that might benefit from getting this newsletter you can use the link below to forward this newsletter to them. If they enjoy it and want to get it all the time they can subscribe, but only if they want to. They will not be automatically put on our mailing list.
The newsletter is a great way to keep up with what is going on with NAMIDKK, find resources, and learn about ways you can help.
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Support Groups
NAMI DKK Support Groups are sponsored by Illinois Children's Mental Health Partnership
NAMI-DKK FAMILY SUPPORT GROUPS
(No charge, no reservations needed)
These support groups provide relevant information, valuable insight, and the opportunity to engage in support networks. The groups are led by family members that have been trained in classes provided by NAMI Illinois. Family members are invited to join more than one group to provide more frequent support.
Aurora:
3rd Tuesday of the month,
from 7:00-8:30 p.m.
The McDermott room, Provena Mercy Hospital (lower level), in Aurora.
630-761-6971 (Buzz Hays)
St. Charles:
1st Thursday of the month at 7 p.m.
The Congregational United Church of Christ, 40W451 Fox Mill Blvd. St. Charles, IL. (To get there, go west on Route 64 to Fox Mill Blvd. and turn left. The church is south of Fox Mill on the left. The entrance is on the south corner from the parking lot.) 630-584-7481 (Lynette Niequist) Yorkville:
2nd Tuesday of the Month
7:00 to 8:30 pm
Yorkville Congregational Church
409 Center Parkway,
Yorkville, IL 60560
630-779-4933 (Carrie)
2nd Tuesday 6:30-8:00 p.m.
St, Joseph Hospital
(St. Mary's Room lower level)
Call Laurie 847-695-7957
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OTHER AREA SUPPORT GROUPS
KENDALL COUNTY SUPPORT GROUPS:
The Kendall County Health Department provides the following support groups lead by mental health professionals. For further information please contact the KCHD Admissions Coordinator, Rhonda at (630) 553-9100 X8053
· Life Strengths: Peer Support for those dealing with chronic mental illness.
· Understanding your Diagnosis: Family support and for those individual(s) working towards mental health recovery.
. Dual Diagnosis Group: Treatment for those individuals addressing both substance abuse and mental health issues.
DEPRESSION & BIPOLAR SUPPORT ALLIANCE:
DeKalb(NIU): Meets Monthly the last Saturday at 12 noon in Immanuel Lutheran Church on Russell Rd.
Follow signs. Easy parking
Contact person: Charles Smith Phone: (815) 398-9628 Fax: (815) 398-5995 Email: mrsippy1d@comcast.netWebsite: www.grouphope.org
Fox Valley: Meets 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at:
Behavioral Health Services Bldg.
Campus of Central DuPage Hosp.
27 W 350 Highlake Rd.
Winfield Rd., Winfield, IL.
Contact person: Judy Kramer, Pres.
Phone: 630-466-4851
Email: Judykramer@MCHSI.com
Website: www.DBSAFoxvalley.org
CARES Support Group - led by and for individuals working towards recovery
Monday mornings 11:00 - 12:00 p.m.
Ecker Center, Elgin - 2nd Floor
for information: NAMI - 847-426-4594
NAMI DUPAGE COUNTY SUPPORT GROUPS:
NAMI DuPage has several support groups that are open to anyone no matter where you live. There is no charge for these groups. To find out more about these groups and where they meet you can go to: click here
NAMI BARRINGTON SUPPORT GROUPS: NAMI Barrington has two family support groups that are open to anyone no matter where you live. There is no charge for these groups. To find out more about these groups and where they meet you can click on this link. |
Consumers' Corner
Calling all consumers!
We would love to have contributions for our newsletter from Consumers who would like to share personal stories, poetry, ideas that have helped you make it through the rough times, or any creative work. If you would like to contribute visual art please contact Nina for details on how to do that.How do you feel about the word "Consumer"? That is the word used by NAMI to indicate a person with a mental illness. Does that word work for you? Do you have an idea for another word that might indicate who you are, yet do it in a positive way? Let us know what you think. Please send your ideas to Nina and she will pass that information on to our Board for consideration. Back to Top |
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Resources
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Lazarus House offers housing
Housing Resource for Kane County
If you know someone in mid Kane County who needs a place to stay, encourage them to call Lazarus House at 630-587-2144 about shelter services.
If it's rent or utility help that they need, have them call 630-587-5872 for a confidential appointment to see if they qualify for assistance. Lazarus House grants help low-income persons in Kane County who struggle to make ends meet. Pass out our number. We are here to help!
Lazarus House
214 Walnut Street, St. Charles, Illinois 60174
Main number (shelter) 630-587-2144
Outreach (rental assistance) 630-587-5872
Email: Info@LazarusHouseOnline.com
Web Site: lazarushouseonline.com
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Volunteer Opportunities
Do you want to help?
NAMIDKK would love to be doing more but there is just not enough time in our days to do everything we think of. If you have an hour or more to help us out we would be glad to hear from you. For some things you do not even need to come into our office to help. If you can help us returning phone calls we will provide training and resource materials. If this is something you would like to do, please contact: Elaine at 630-377-1563 or epmulligan1@gmail.com.Your help as volunteers would increase our ability to help improve the quality of life for individuals with mental illness and their families. We need: a grant writer, a publicity coordinator, speakers bureau volunteers, help line call takers, dinner/raffle help, more people for our educations programs, someone to join NAMI National's Stigma Buster Alert program, people to help update resource information, as well as newsletter submissions.
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Membership
BECOME A MEMBER OF NAMI DEKALB, KANE SOUTH & KENDALL COUNTIES
NAMI DKK is a nonprofit organization affiliated with NAMI - The National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Membership includes: Membership in Illinois and National NAMI
NAMI National's publication Advocate (quarterly)
NAMI Illinois' publication Stateline (quarterly)
NAMI DKK CARES email Newsletter (monthly)
New members receive a welcome packet and our NAMI-DKK Handbook (when available).
Please complete the information below and mail your check or money order to
NAMI-DKK
400 Mercy Lane,
Aurora, Illinois 60506
Name:___________________
Address:_________________
City:________Zip:_________
Telephone (s):____________
Email (s): _______________
Individual: $30/year _______
Advocate: $100/year _______
Lifetime: $500 _______
Written Newsletter Only _______
($10 suggested donation)
Open Door $3/year _______
(Those with limited means/fixed incomes are invited to join at this reduced rate)
Donation Only $ _______
Total Enclosed: $ ________ Note: Membership and donations are tax deductible. Back to Top |
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About Us
NAMIDKK can be reached by
phone: 630-896-6264
fax: 630-896-6365
email: info@namidkk.org
mail: 400 Mercy Lane
Aurora, IL 60506
website: namidkk.org
NAMIDKK is an affiliate of a national network of NAMI groups all over the world. The national website
has many resources for both consumers and families, educational
information about mental illness and treatments, and the latest news
concerning our issues. NAMI Illinois is the state organization
that can direct you to local events and groups as well as keeping us
updated about what is happening in our state. The state website also has resources and links to other organizations.
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NAMIDKK Board of Directors
Phyllis Graeser - President Nina Finch - Vice President Walter Deuchler - Treasurer Mary Ihnenfeld - Secretary Suzanne Deuchler Denise Edwards Darlene Marcusson Jim McNish Jack Hazel (Leave of absence) Advisory Board
Regina Harris Elaine Mulligan Buzz Hays Legal Advisor: Alschuler, Simantz & Hem, LLC - Jan OPittman, Legal Assistant Accountant: Borhart, Spellmeyer & Co. Back to Top
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Educational Programs
Helping schools reach out to children with mental illness
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PARENTS AND TEACHERS AS ALLIES:
Parents and Teachers as allies was created to help families and school professionals identify the key warning signs of early-onset mental illnesses in children and adolescents in our schools. The program is intended to provide an educational tool for advancing mutual understanding and communication between families and school professionals. This program is designed for two-hour teacher in-services, parent PTA sponsored evenings, and mental health professional classes.
RED FLAGS:
Red Flags is a depression awareness program for middle school students. It is generally taught in health classes and takes 3-5 class periods. The teacher can choose between 2 DVD's: "Claire's Story," or "Thick'n Thin," a more recent story of teenage depression. Two additional DVD's go with the program, as well as suggested class activites, information on mental illness and discussion topics.
ENDING THE SILENCE:
Ending the Silence is a high school health class presentation, typically presented during the mental health portion of the curriculum. This interactive program teaches the basic signs and symptoms of mental illnesses in teenagers, presents personal stories to reduce stigma, and provides many resource materials for students.
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Ways to donate to NAMI-DKK:
 By phone: Call 630-896-6264 By mail: Click here to fill out a form that you can print out and mail to our office. At your workplace: An easy way to double - even triple - the value of your contribution to NAMI-DKK! Thousands of companies (of all sizes, in all industries) have Matching Gift programs that "match" their employees' contributions (often Board members and spouses too) to their favorite charities. To learn more about how to match your donation to NAMI-DKK click here. Planned Giving: You can plan the giving from your estate with the help of an attorney using a number of legal mechanisms, such as a charitable remainder trust, that may enable you to maintain your estate, provide for yourself and your family, and leave a lasting legacy. Sponsorship of Events or NAMI-DKK Programs: Opportunities to donate to NAMI-DKK include sponsoring events such as our Dinner/raffle and our annual Run/Walk. You can designate funds for specific programs. NAMI-DKK programs include Family to Family classes, Crisis Intervention Training for law enforcement, adult and student based educational programs, family support groups, a monthly newsletter, printed informational materials and a help call line staffed by volunteers.
To find out more about these and other programs contact NAMI-DKK office at 630-896-6264. Buy Raffle Tickets: Call our office for more information about buying raffle tickets for our annual Dinner/Raffle. They are usually available in January and the first week of February of each year. Drawing is at our annual dinner. You do not need to be present to win. Memorial and Honorary Giving: Memorial Giving: Your memorial gift to NAMI-DKK is a personal remembrance that honors the life and memory of a friend or loved one, and offers the gift of hope for the future.
Honorary Giving: Holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, Mother's or Father's Day, or the arrival of a new baby are special moments that we can help you celebrate. A gift to NAMI is a wonderful way for individuals, organizations, businesses, and groups to honor these special occasions in our lives and pay tribute to a friend or loved one. Based on the information you provide, NAMI-DKK will send a letter to the family of the memorialized or to the honored person, notifying them of your thoughtful gift. NAMI-DKK is a 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax deductible.
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Employer Matching Donations How do I secure a matching gift for my donation to NAMI-DKK? Contact your Human Resources Department to find out if your company has a Matching Gift Program. If they have a matching gift program, your company likely uses one of two ways to secure your additional matching gift to NAMI-DKK: (Most common) Obtain your company's matching gift form, fill out the "Donor" section, and mail it to NAMI-DKK when you send your donation. NAMI-DKK will complete the "Charity" section of the form, and mail it back to your company. This will confirm that we received your gift and request their matching gift. (Less common) Make your donation to NAMI-DKK through the mail or phone. Upon receipt of your gift, NAMI-DKK will send a letter acknowledging your contribution. Bring this letter to your Matching Gift program coordinator who will distribute your company's matching gift to NAMI-DKK. Why should I give a matching gift to NAMI-DKK? Matching gift programs allow you to allocate your company's charitable dollars to the cause nearest and dearest to you heart, greatly increasing your donation's value to NAMI-DKK. What's more, NAMI-DKK considers your corporation's matching gift as part of your total contribution. Therefore, your $50 gift can become a $100 or $150 gift to NAMI-DKK. So please -- go ahead and make a donation to NAMI-DKK today!
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