Lisa Guardiola Lisa Guardiola

NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago and Sertoma Star Services are co-sponsoring a 2 day ASISt suicide Prevention training

NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago and Sertoma Star Services co-sponsor an 2 day ASIST Suicide Prevention Training

NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago and Sertoma Star Services are Co-Sponsoring a 2 day ASIST Suicide Prevention Training. This is an intensive 2 day training that will be held on Friday April 4th and Saturday April 5th from 9:00am to 5:00pm each day. This training will be located at Bremen Township Senior Complex 15350 Oak Park Avenue, Oak Forest, IL 60452. For more information or to register please contact Lisa Guardiola at lguardiola@sertomastar.org or call 1-708-748-1951 x 405.

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Lisa Guardiola Lisa Guardiola

NAMI Family to Family Course March 2025

NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago Family to Family Course

NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago is be having a Family to Family Course Beginning Tuesday March 4th and meeting every Tuesday and Thursday in March and ending on Thursday March 27th. The course will be held at the Bremen Township Senior Complex located at 15350 Oak Park Avenue, Oak Forest, IL 60452. If you would like more information or to register for the course please contact Marianne Bithos by emailing namisouthsuburbsofchicago@gmail.com or call (708) 385-9129.

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Lisa Guardiola Lisa Guardiola

NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago and Sertoma Star Services co-sponsor a Free mental health First aid course 2/26/25

NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago and Sertoma Star Services are co-sponsoring a FREE Mental Health First Aid training on Wednesday February 26th. To register please email lguardiola@sertomastar.org or call 1-708-748-1951 x 405

NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago and Sertoma Star Services are co-sponsoring a FREE Mental Health First Aid training on Wednesday February 26th form 8:30am to 4:30pm located at Bremen Township Senior Complex 15350 Oak Park Avenue, Oak Forest, IL 60452. To register please email lguardiola@sertomastar.org or call 1-708-748-1951 x 405

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Stacy Vasilatos Stacy Vasilatos

NAMI Family to Family Beginning September 10 - October 3

Tuesdays & Thursdays for 4 weeks from 6:00-8:30 p.m.: Free, 8 sessions, educational class for family, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions to learn there is hope and there is recovery. 

NAMI Family to Family
Beginning September 10 - October 3 
(Tuesdays & Thursdays for 4 weeks)
6:00-8:30 p.m.
Bremen Township Senior Complex
15350 Oak Park Ave, Oak Forest, IL 60452

NAMI Family-to-Family is a free, 8 sessions, educational class for family, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions to learn there is hope and there is recovery. 

NAMI Family-to-Family is taught by NAMI-trained family members who have been there, and includes presentations, discussions and interactive exercises. It is a designated, evidenced-based program. This means that research shows that the program significantly improves the coping and problem-solving abilities of the people closest to a person with a mental health condition.

What You’ll Gain - NAMI Family-to-Family not only provides information and strategies for taking care of the person you love, but you'll also find out that you're not alone. The group setting of NAMI Family-to-Family provides mutual support and shared positive impact—experience compassion and reinforcement from people who understand your situation. Sharing your own experience may help others in your class. In the program, you'll learn about:

  • Up-to-date information on mental health conditions and how they affect the brain

  • How to handle a crisis

  • Current treatments and therapies

  • How to solve problems and communicate effectively

  • Taking care of yourself and managing your stress

  • Supporting your loved one with compassion

  • Finding and using local supports and services

Registration is required. Contact Marianne Bithos (708) 385-9126 or email namisouthsuburbsofchicago@gmail.com

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Stacy Vasilatos Stacy Vasilatos

safeTALK Suicide Prevention Course: Friday Sept. 6, 2024 - 9:00am to 1:00pm

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. To bring about awareness, NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago and Sertoma Star Services has scheduled a safeTALK suicide prevention course. This course will help you to make a connection and help you to save a life.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. To bring about awareness, NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago and Sertoma Star Services has scheduled a safeTALK suicide prevention course on Friday September 6, 2024 from 9:00am to 1:00pm.

This course will help you to make a connection and help you to save a life. We have to remember that suicide is preventable and anyone can make a difference. In this half day training you will learn suicide alertness skills and four basic steps to create a life-saving connection widely used by professionals and the general public. 

Studies show that participants gain confidence:

  1. Asking people about suicide directly

  2. Connecting them to life-saving resources 

  3. Keeping them safe until those resources take over

We hope that you will join us for this very impactful course. Registration is required. Please email Lisa Guardiola at lguardiola@sertomastar.org to register or if you have any further questions. 

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Lisa Guardiola Lisa Guardiola

Sat., Jan. 20, 2024 - NAMI Family and Friends

NAMI Family and Friends, a 90 minute seminar that informs people who have loved ones with a mental health condition or experiencing difficulty with mental health how best to support them.

NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago presents- NAMI Family & Friends

Saturday – January 20, 2024

10 – 12 noon

Bremen Township Senior Complex, Oak Forest, IL

15350 Oak Park Ave, Oak Forest, IL 60452

NAMI Family and Friends, a 90 minute seminar that informs people who have loved ones with a mental health condition or experiencing difficulty with mental health how best to support them.  It is also an opportunity to meet other people in similar situations and gain community support.

 This free program will be offered Saturday, January 20, 2024, 10 – 12 noon, at Bremen Senior Center, 15350 Oak Park Ave., Oak Forest, IL 60452.  Register:  namisouthsuburbsofchicago@gmail.com

What You’ll Learn

The seminar is led by trained people with lived experience of supporting a family member or friend with a mental health condition.  They will walk you through the following topics –

  •   Understanding diagnoses, treatment and recovery

  •    Effective communication strategies

  •     The importance of self care

  •     Crisis preparation strategies

  •     NAMI and community resources

    What People Are Saying

“Hearing personal experiences and how relatable my experiences are to them was very helpful…..  Learning that the illness is what can cause “cruelty” and poor decisions rather than the person…..

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Lisa Guardiola Lisa Guardiola

5/13/23 2nd Annual Minds In Motion Moving for Mental Health Resource Fair and Fundraiser

NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago is pleased to announce their 2nd Annual Minds in Motion Moving for Mental Health resource fair and fundraiser on Saturday May 13, 2023. Join us in celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month at Bremen Township Senior Complex Located at 15350 Oak Park Avenue, Oak Forest, IL 60452 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm for some good family fun. If you have any questions about the event please contact NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago at 1-708-852-9126 or email us at namisouthsuburbsofchicago@gmail.com WE hope to see you there!

NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago is pleased to announce their 2nd Annual Minds in Motion Moving for Mental Health resource fair and fundraiser on Saturday May 13, 2023. Join us in celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month at Bremen Township Senior Complex Located at 15350 Oak Park Avenue, Oak Forest, IL 60452 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm for some good family fun. If you have any questions about the event please contact NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago at 1-708-852-9126 or email us at namisouthsuburbsofchicago@gmail.com WE hope to see you there!

Resource Fair Community Partners Hosting Tables

UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial

Advocate South Suburbs Hospital

Timberline Knolls

NYAP - National Youth Advocate Program

Kirby Rehabilitation - The Comfort Zone

Lyons Club

Cook County Health

AFSP - American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Sertoma Centre

Trinity Services

Envision

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Lisa Guardiola Lisa Guardiola

10/29 NAMI Homefront for Veterans In-Person Event

What is NAMI Homefront:

A FREE educational program for families, caregivers, and friends of military service members and veterans with mental health conditions taught by trained NAMI volunteers - family members who know what it’s like to have a relative living with mental health challenges.

What you will learn in NAMI Homefront:

• Care for yourself and manage your stress

• Support your family member effectively with compassion

• Stay informed on the latest research and information on mental health, including PTSD, traumatic brain injury, anxiety, depression and substance use

• Understand current treatments and evidence-based therapies

• Navigate the challenges of mental health conditions on the family

• Manage a crisis, solve problems, and communicate effectively

When: Saturdays: October 29, November 5, & 12

Where: St. Luke Orthodox Church 10700 Kean Ave, Palos Hills, IL 60465

Event Time: 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Co-Teachers: Howard & Michaelyn Sloan

Please call or email for more information and to REGISTER

caprillife@gmail.com or (815) 630-0736

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Lisa Guardiola Lisa Guardiola

10/22 Sharing Hope In-Person Session

NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago, NAMI SSC, is proud to be part of NAMI Illinois initiative at the local level. NAMI SSC will launch its effort to outreach to underrepresented communities by offering Sharing Hope sessions designed specifically for Black/African American communities.

Sharing Hope is a three-part short video series that explores the journey of mental wellness in Black/African American through dialogue, storytelling, and a guided discussion on the following topics: Youth and Mental Wellness, Community Leaders and Mental Wellness, Black Families and Mental Wellness.

There will be an in person Sharing Hope session that will take place on Saturday, October 22, 2022, from 1pm until 4pm at the New Pasadena MB Church located at 11300 S. Indiana Ave. Chicago IL, 60628. There will be a resource fair from 1pm until 2pm, Sharing Hope will begin immediately at 2pm and will be followed by a workshop entitled iEmpower Renewed Mindsets sponsored by iEmpower Mental Health Awareness, LLC.

Link to Register

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Lisa Guardiola Lisa Guardiola

10/14 - 10/15 NAMI Illinois State Conference: Building Unity In Our Communities

After two years of gathering virtually, NAMI Illinois is excited to welcome leaders from across Illinois to Palos Hills on Friday-Saturday, October 14-15, to reconnect, recharge, and rethink the future of mental health in Illinois.

Building Unity in Our Communities: Taking Illinois Mental Health to the Next Level explores what it will take to make Illinois the nation's most caring, comprehensive mental health community. Join Illinois' most committed advocates, family members, care providers, policymakers, corporate partners, and people living with mental health conditions for two motivating days of learning and action.

Early bird registration ends September 15. Discounts are provided for people who live with a mental health condition. Need-based scholarships are also available, and Continuing Education Units are available at no additional cost. Registration fees include a light breakfast and box lunch.

When: Friday, October 14 - Saturday, October 15

Event Time: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM CST

Where: Moraine Valley Community College Conference Center, 9000 W. College Parkway, Palos Hills, IL 60465

Questions? email conference@namiillinois.org

Link to Register

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Lisa Guardiola Lisa Guardiola

10/10 Sharing Hope Webinar

NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago, NAMI SSC, is proud to be part of NAMI Illinois initiative at the local level. NAMI SSC will launch its effort to outreach to underrepresented communities by offering Sharing Hope sessions designed specifically for Black/African American communities.

Sharing Hope is a three-part short video series that explores the journey of mental wellness in Black/African American through dialogue, storytelling, and a guided discussion on the following topics: Youth and Mental Wellness, Community Leaders and Mental Wellness, Black Families and Mental Wellness.

Join NAMI SSC for its first Sharing Hope session in honor of World Mental Health Day on Monday, October 10, 2022, from 6:00pm until 7:00pm. This session will take place virtually via Zoom.

Link to Register

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Lisa Guardiola Lisa Guardiola

10/8 Light The Night for Mental Wellness Event

Light the Night for Mental Wellness is a community event that included a Suicide Prevention Workshop, Substance Abuse Resources, and information on how to Manage Stress and Anxiety with a candellight vigil at dusk. Admission is FREE with refreshments and raffle.

When: Saturday October 8, 2022

Event Time: 5:00pm - 8:00pm

Where: Sergeant Means Park 20712 Western Ave. Olympia Fields, IL 60461

Register by email: helplightthenight2022@gmail.com

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Lisa Guardiola Lisa Guardiola

10/8 NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago announces third annual fundraiser – Burgers for Blankets

NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago is hosting its third annual BURGERS FOR BLANKETS fundraiser on Saturday, October 8, 1 – 6 p.m. at Perros Bros, 3770 Lincoln Highway, Olympia Fields, IL 60461. NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago would like to thank Perros Bros for donating all 200 burgers for the event. The winter months can be hard for those in the homeless population. Many who live without housing also live with a mental health condition so please help NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago spread the warmth this fall/winter season. Blankets will be donated to Sertoma Centre Inc. Homeless Outreach Program and South Suburban PADS.

We are giving away 200 free burgers for the first 200 NEW blankets donated on the day of the event. Donate a blanket and get a free burger! For more information or to reserve your burger/s email the number of blankets you will bring to Perros Brothers the day of the event on October 8th at burgersforblankets22@gmail.com.

NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago is an affiliate of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness and advocating for access to services, treatment, supports, and research. NAMI is steadfast in its commitment to raising awareness, building a community of hope for all of those in need, and providing essential education, advocacy and support group programs for people living with mental illness and their loved ones.

Additional information available at burgersforblankets22@gmail.com

Find us on Facebook – NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago

www.namisouthsuburbsofchicago.org

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Lisa Guardiola Lisa Guardiola

5/17/22 FREE IN-PERSON safeTALK Suicide Prevention Training

NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago and Sertoma Centre are co-sponsoring this FREE In-Person Training. safeTALK is a half-day training in suicide alertness that helps participants recognize a person with thoughts of suicide and support them.

Most people with thoughts of suicide don’t want to die—instead, they are looking for a way to work through the pain in their lives. Through their words and actions, they usually invite others to help them in making a choice for life. safeTALK teaches participants to recognize these invitations, engage with the person with thoughts of suicide, and connect them with resources to help them be safer from suicide. These resources could include health care professionals, first responders, or crisis line workers—among many others who have suicide intervention training.

SafeTALK helps participants become alert to suicide. Suicide-alert people are better prepared to connect persons with thoughts of suicide with life-affirming help. Over the course of their training, safeTALK participants will learn to:

• Notice and respond to situations where suicide thoughts may be present,

• Recognize that invitations for help are often overlooked,

• Move beyond the common tendency to miss, dismiss, and avoid suicide,

• Apply the TALK steps: Tell, Ask, Listen, KeepSafe

• Know community resources and how to connect someone with thoughts of suicide to them for further suicide-safer help.

Date: Tuesday May 17, 2022

Time: 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Location: Bremen Township Senior Complex

15350 Oak Park Avenue

Oak Forest, IL 60452

Link to Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-safetalk-suicide-prevention-training-tickets-333041795977

For more information, please contact Lisa Guardiola at lguardiola@sertomacentre.org or Call 1-708-638-8394

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Lisa Guardiola Lisa Guardiola

5/14/22 NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago - Minds In Motion Moving for Mental Health Resource Fair and Fundraiser

NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago is hosting their first ever Minds In Motion Moving For Mental Health Resource Fair and Fundraiser on Saturday May 14, 2022 from 1:00pm - 5:00pm in celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month. This will be a fun event for the whole family to enjoy. We are hosting a resource fair and have invited many community organizations to increase attendees mental health literacy and bring down the stigma associated with mental illness. Help us to raise funds in our Hot Dogs 4 A Hug Fundraiser where you can purchase a hot dog, bag of chips, pop, and a cookie for only $5.00 dollars. We will also have fun activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Arts and Crafts Table for Youth

Face Painting

Zumba Fun for Kids

Chair Yoga

Minds In Motion Event Walk

Community Resource Fair

Date: Saturday May 14, 2022

Time: 1:00pm to 5:00pm

Location: Bremen Township Senior Complex

15350 Oak Park Avenue

Oak Forest, IL 60452

For more information about the event please contact Marianne Bithos: namisouthsuburbsofchicago@gmail.com or Call 708-852-9126

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Lisa Guardiola Lisa Guardiola

5/12/22 FREE IN-PERSON Overview of Mental Illness Training

NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago and Sertoma Centre are co-sponsoring this FREE In-Person Training. This is a two hour overview of mental illness that helps one recognize signs and symptoms and how to support loved ones with a diagnosis. Approximately 1 out of 5 adults, or 45.6 million people in a given year is living with a mental illness. There is no health without Mental Health.

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Have a basic overview of anxiety, PTSD, depression, bi-polar disorder, and schizophrenia

• Identify the signs and symptoms of each disorder

• Understand risk factors and protective factors of mental illness

• Learn strategies for supporting Individuals with a mental health condition

DATE: Thursday May 12, 2022

TIME: 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: Bremen Township Senior Complex

15350 Oak Park Avenue

Oak Forest, IL 60452

Link to Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-overview-of-mental-illness-training-tickets-333342375017

For more information, please contact Lisa Guardiola at lguardiola@sertomacentre.org or Call 1-708-638-8394

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