NAMI CARES
Concern, Advocacy, Research, Education, Support
May 2013
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NAMI DKK Vision & Mission 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.
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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Ways to be Autism Aware
By Alice Hammel and Ryan Hourigan
in Oxford University Press's Blog
(1) Be aware that people with autism can usually understand more than they can express.
Autism doesn't change the fact that everyone understands more than they can express. When we learn a new language, we can understand what someone is saying long before we can create sentences that demonstrate the depth of our knowledge. Babies can understand a great deal of language before they begin to speak their first words.
People with autism often communicate differently to express what they know and want to share. Some will write thoughts on paper, or draw a picture demonstrating intent. They may use sign language, or a stack of picture cards to convey wants and needs. Many people with autism use shorter sentences with simplified language. This does not mean they are not thinking and comprehending full sentences with higher-level vocabulary. Being willing to communicate in a different way will allow you to be aware that communication comes in many forms. Autism Community provides resources and strategies to assist with communication and children with autism.
(10) Be aware that a person with autism is a person and not a label.
Autism is a label. Cans, cars, clothing, and technology have labels. People are not labels. A person with autism is a person. Be aware at all times that labels define and limit - real understanding comes with knowing the individual and responding to her needs.
May is Mental Illness Awareness Month!
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NAMI DKK Special Event
Saturday
July 13, 2013
9:00 am: Coffee & Conversation
9:30 to 11:00 am Program
Topic: Low Cost and
Free Legal Services
Presence (Provena) Mercy Center
Main Hospital Building Lower Level, McAuley Room
1325 North Highland Ave
Aurora, IL 50506 Everyone is Welcome!
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Family-to-Family Class
Starts this summer
Begins August 12, 2013!
in Oswego
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 NAMI members All instruction and course materials are free to class participants Over 115,000 family members have graduated from this national program More details about Family-to-Family. Classes start Monday, August 12, 2013
continuing weekly
in Oswego, IL
Classes are free! Registration is required To register call 630-896-6264 or email us at education@namidkk.org NAMI DeKalb, Kane South & Kendall Counties
400 Mercy Lane, Aurora, IL 60506
630-896-6264
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NAMI DKK Opportunities
Volunteers and Speakers Training
Volunteer Training
Two opportunities to receive volunteer training:
Sunday May 5th at 1pm and Tuesday May 14th at 6:30 pm.
Real Impact Speaker Training Become a part of NAMI DKK Speakers Bureau The two part training will be held in June
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Coming Events
NAMI DKK Board Meeting -
The next meeting will be May 13, 2013.
The Next Saturday Coffee will be May 18, 2013. Please watch our announcements for more details.
The Next General Meeting will be July 13, 2013. See announcement above for more details.
Support Groups:
Wednesdays: NAMI Connection Support Group from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at Provena Mercy Center (details)
Thursdays: NAMI Connection Support Group from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm at Association for Individual Development (details)
May 2, 2013 - NAMI Support Group meets in St. Charles 7:00 to 8:30 pm (details)
May 14, 2013 - NAMI Support Group meets in Yorkville 7:00 to 8:30 pm (details)
May 21, 2013 - NAMI Support Group meets in Aurora 7:00 to 8:30 pm (details) May 21, 2013 - NAMI Support Group meets in DeKalb 7:30 to 9:00 pm (details)May 22, 2013 - NAMI Spanish/English Support Group meets in Aurora 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Save the Date:
June 29, 2013 - NAMI DKK Saturday Coffee
June 27-30, 2013 in San Antonio Texas - NAMI National Convention (see details below)
July 13, 2013 - NAMI DKK Special Event: Low Cost and Free Legal Services
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NAMI DKK Saturday Coffee
Join us for: ~ a short presentation ~ lots of conversation
May Saturday Coffee
May 18, 2013
Hosts: Baber Research Group
1460 Bond Street | Suite 130 | Naperville, Illinois | 60563
Tel: 630.844.2095
www.BaberResearchGroup.com
Dr. Baber will give a brief overview of their services then the Educational topic wil be diagnosis and treatment of Bipolar Disorder and Tourette's Disorder.
Our next Saturday Coffee will be June 29, 2013
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The Affordable Care Act Explained
How will it affect you?
Wednesday, May 22, 7p.m. Viviane Clement of Alexian will explain the Affordable Care Act and how it will impact health insurance.
At the Alexian Brothers Center for Mental Health.
No charge, no registration needed.
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After An Arrest: Understanding the Courts
A Q&A interview with Dr. Catherine Cerulli
Here is a list of the questions that were asked: What can an individual expect if he or she is going to court for the first time? Tell me about courthouses. Are there times when a defendant does not have to appear in court? If an individual with mental illness is arrested, what are the possible reasons their case might be dismissed? How can family members advocate for a loved one with mental illness who has been arrested?
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May Fast Fact
The World Health Organization has reported that four of the 10 leading causes of disability in the US and other developed countries are mental disorders. By 2020, Major Depressive illness will be the leading cause of disability in the world for women and children.
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Readers' Corner
By Bob Carolla, NAMI Director of Media Relations
 | | Far From the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity |
Andrew Soloman's latest book explores what it's like for parents with children who are different than their peers and often stigmatized.
Far from the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity, published at the end of last year, was named one of the top 10 books of 2012 by The New York Times and won the National Book Critics Circle Award.
It is a panoramic, provocative examination of families who must come to terms with their children's physical, mental or social disabilities, including autism and schizophrenia.
"Disability" may be the wrong word. "Exceptional" is more applicable in the sense that a son or a daughter does not fit a family's general pattern. When children mirror the traits of parents, the adage is that "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," but in the categories covered in the book, they do.
Solomon introduces the reader to a new way of looking at children and families, framing them in terms of "vertical" and "horizontal" identities.
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Syndrome more Common in Those with Mental Illness
Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes
Metabolic syndrome is a complex medical condition that involves multiple related diseases including obesity, elevated blood sugars, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. People with metabolic syndrome are at increased risk for developing many serious medical complications including type 2 diabetes, heart attack , stroke, and if not addressed, even early death. Unfortunately, people living with mental illness are at increased risk for developing metabolic syndrome. Due to the severity of this condition, early detection and intervention are critically important.
People with mental illness are more likely than other individuals to develop this complex medical condition. Scientific research has shown that certain people are at an even greater risk of having metabolic syndrome, including people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. These illnesses carry an increased risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes compared with many other medical conditions.
Read more about prevention, treatment options and concern about certain medications
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Unexpected Pilgrims
a book by John Zurn
A book discussion will be held at the Batavia Library on Rt. 31 on Saturday, May 4th from 1 to 3 p.m. John's book is an anthology of his stories, poems, and a short play and is a unique portrayal of individuals struggling to survive in a sometimes insensitive world.
John Zurn has been faced with the challenge of bipolar disorder for his entire adult life. Despite this challenge, he still managed to work as a teacher and counselor for over thirty-five years.
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Advocacy
Mental Health Legislation
 Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act Passed Senate The Senate overwhelmingly passed the Harkin-Alexander Amendment (also known as the Mental Health Awareness and Improvement Act, S 689) April 18th, with a vote of 95-2. This landmark accomplishment demonstrates enormous bipartisan support for addressing early intervention in mental illness and strengthening suicide prevention programs. How did your Senator vote on the Harkin-Alexander Amendment? View the Senate vote. Senators Durbin and Kirk voted for it. Please let them know that we appreciate their vote. Contact your senators here. Excellence in Mental Health Act Stalled in the Senate The expected vote on the Stabenow-Blunt Amendment (also known as the Excellence in Mental Health Act) did not occur. The Senate fell short of the 60 votes needed to pass a separate amendment on enhanced background checks required for purchasing firearms. As a result, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pulled the underlying gun violence bill. It is unclear if the gun violence legislation will be brought up again in the Senate. View NAMI's Where We Stand position paper on violence, mental illness and gun reporting laws.
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The Problem With How We Treat Bipolar Disorder
Excerpts from an article by LINDA LOGAN Published in the New York Times: April 26, 2013
 | | Photograph from Linda Logan in The New York Times |
The last time I saw my old self, I was 27 years old and living in Boston. I was doing well in graduate school, had a tight circle of friends and was a prolific creative writer. Married to my high-school sweetheart, I had just had my first child. Back then, my best times were twirling my baby girl under the gloaming sky on a Florida beach and flopping on the bed with my husband - feet propped against the wall - and talking. The future seemed wide open.
I don't think there is a particular point at which I can say I became depressed. My illness was insidious, gradual and inexorable. I had a preview of depression in high school, when I spent a couple of years wearing all black, rimming my eyes in kohl and sliding against the walls in the hallways, hoping that no one would notice me. But back then I didn't think it was a very serious problem.
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I would try to talk to my doctors about my vanishing self, but they didn't have much to say on the subject. Instead they focused on whether I could make eye contact or how much expression I showed in my face. They monitored my lithium and cortisol levels; they took an M.R.I. of my head. I received an EKG, was exposed to full-spectrum lighting and kept awake all night for sleep-deprivation therapy. Nurses jotted down their observations; my scribbled lines in art therapy were inspected. Everything was scrutinized - except the transformation of my self and my experience of its loss.
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For many people with mental disorders, the transformation of the self is one of the most disturbing things about being ill. And their despair is heightened when doctors don't engage with the issue, don't ask about what parts of the self have vanished and don't help figure out strategies to deal with that loss.
Some in the mental-health field are beginning to recognize this need. Janina Fisher, a psychologist and the assistant director of the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute in Broomfield, Colo., told me that there has been a "sea change" in the role the self plays in the therapeutic dialogue since the decades when I was sick. New therapies and treatment philosophies, founded mostly by clinical psychologists and other practitioners who are not medical doctors, recognize the role of the self in people with mental illness. Patients tell her, "I just want to be that person I used to be." Fisher encourages her patients to recognize that their mental trauma is a part of their life, but shouldn't dominate it.
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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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DONATE TODAY
NAMI DKK needs your help to continue providing support and education for those with mental illness and their families.
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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,
7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
The Bennett room, Presence (Provena) Mercy Hospital (lower level), in Aurora.
630-761-6971 (Buzz)
Aurora Bilingual(English/Spanish)
4th Wednesday of the Month
7:00 to 8:30 pm
630-995-1336 (Manuel)
AID (Association for Individual Development)
305 W. New Indian Trail Ct.
Aurora, IL 60506
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) 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)
DeKalb:
Generally meets 3rd Tuesday of the Month. Call for specific dates
7:30 to 9:00 pm
NIU Founders Memorial Library
200 Carroll Avenue, DeKalb, IL 60115 815-557-4522 (Anne)
Elgin (NAMI Kane County North):2nd Tuesday 6:30-8:00 p.m.
St. Joseph Hospital
77 N. Airlite, Elgin
(St. Mary's Room lower level)
Call Laurie 847-695-7957
NAMI-DKK CONNECTION SUPPORT GROUPS
Wednesdays:
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at
Presence (Provena) Mercy Hospital,
Behavioral Health Building,
1325 N Highland Ave
Aurora, IL 60506
Voris Conference Room
Thursdays:
2:00 pm to 3:30 pm at
Association for Individual Development (AID)
Behavioral Health Services,
1230 N Highland Ave,
Aurora, IL 60506
Small Group Room
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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 Loved Ones Diagnosis: Family support
. 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
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. |
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Memorials
Honoring those who have left us
 NAMI DKK would like to honor those people that have meant so much to their families and friends and also to NAMI DKK. If you have a loved one that is no longer with us but you would like to have remembered, please contact us at info@namidkk.org or call one of our volunteers at 630-896-6264. We will then contact you to discuss how you would like to have that person honored. We will be placing a plaque in our office with names and if it is desired we can mention that person in our newsletter and on our website.Back to Top
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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.
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, librarian, 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.
or call: 630-896-6264
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Educational ProgramsHelping 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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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
Becoming a member is easy. You can:
Email NAMI DKK at info@namidkk.org or call 630-896-6264 and ask us to contact you for more information - OR- Send us the information listed below with your check or money order Please send us 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 _______
Open Door $3/year _______
(Those with limited means/fixed incomes are invited to join at this reduced rate)
Donation Only $ _______
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NAMIDKK Board of Directors:
Phyllis Graeser - President
Nina Finch - Vice President
Glenn Tredinnick - Treasurer
Robyn Vickers - Secretary
Denise Edwards
Jim McNish
Bobbie McQuade Nigg
Neil Vickers
Advisory Board:
Elaine Mulligan
Buzz Hays
Jack Hazel
Cheryl Johnson
Legal Advisor: Alschuler, Simantz & Hem, LLC - Jan OPittman, Legal Assistant
Accountant: Borhart, Spellmeyer & Co.
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About Us
NAMIDKK can be reached by:
phone: 630-896-6264 mail: 400 Mercy Lane
fax: 630-896-6365 Aurora, IL 60506
email:info@namidkk.org 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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