NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago 2nd Annual Burgers for Blankets Collection Drive November 13, 2021

Help NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago spread the warmth this Holiday Season. We are partnering with Lassen’s Tap at 2131 183rd St, Homewood, IL 60430 on the second annual “Burgers for Blankets” fundraising drive on November 13, 2021 from 11:00am to 8:00pm. The goal is to collect 500 blankets and to distribute to the homeless shelters and families in need. A Free burger coupon will be provided for each new blanket donated, redeemable at Lassen’s Tap. So please stop by Lassen’s Tap on November 13th and donate a blanket for your burger voucher. For more information contact namisouthsuburbsofchicago@gmail.com or call 1-708-852-9126

FREE Adult Mental Health First Aid Training November 19, 2021

Adult Mental Health First Aid

Date: Friday November 19, 2021

Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm

Location: Bremen Township Senior Complex

15350 Oak Park Avenue

Oak Forest, IL 60452

MASKS REQUIRED TO ATTEND

Must register by Monday November 8, 2021

To Register Contact Lisa Guardiola at 1-708-638-8394 or lguardiola@sertomacentre.org

FREE In-Person Youth Mental Health First Aid Training November 12, 2021

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Date: Friday November 12, 2021

Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm

Location: Bremen Township Senior Complex

15350 Oak Park Avenue

Oak Forest, IL 60452

MASKS REQUIRED TO ATTEND

Must register by Monday November 1, 2021

To Register Contact Lisa Guardiola at 1-708-638-8394 or Email lguardiola@sertomacentre.org

Real Men Cry - A Virtual Zoom Event on Men's Mental Health and PTSD

6/28/2021 - NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago will be hosting a virtual event on Saturday June 26th from 1:00 PM TO 3:00 PM in honor of Men’s Mental Health and PTSD Awareness Month. Please join us for an honest conversation about men’s mental health and here their stories of dealing with PTSD. For more information contact the NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago Affiliate on our affiliate phone at 1-708-335-4008 or email us at namisouthsuburbsofchicago@gmail.com

Adult Mental Heath First Aid Training Friday May 21st

5/21/2021 - NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago and Sertoma Centre will be co-hosting a FREE Virtual Adult Mental Health First Aid training on Friday May 21st from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm. Mental Heath First Aid is a course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. The training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis. The training consists of a 2 hour self study pre-work that needs to be completed by Wednesday May 19th in order to attend the virtual training via zoom on Friday May 21st. Space is limited to 30 participants and registration is required by Monday May 3rd. For more information or to register please contact Lisa Guardiola via email at lguardiola@sertomacentre.org or via phone at 1-708-638-8394. You can also contact the NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago Affiliate at namisouthsuburbsofchicago@gmail.com or on our affiliate phone at 1-708-335-4008

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training on Friday May 7th

5/7/2021 - NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago and Sertoma Centre will be co-hosting a FREE Virtual Youth Mental Health First Aid Training on Friday May 7th from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm. The class will focus on risk factors and warning signs of mental health challenges among youth and adolescents, as well as developing an action plan when problems may arise. The training consists of a 2 hour self study pre-work that needs to be completed by Wednesday May 5th in order to attend the virtual training via zoom on Friday May 7th. Space is limited to 30 participants and registration is required by Monday April 26th so please sign up ASAP. For more information or to register please contact Lisa Guardiola via email at lguardiola@sertomacentre.org or via phone at 1-708-638-8394. You can also contact the NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago Affiliate at namisouthsuburbsofchicago@gmail.com or on our affiliate phone at 1-708-335-4008

Donation Drive for Hats, Gloves, Socks & Boots

Thank you Student Occupational Therapy Assistant Club at South Suburban College, for your volunteering for NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago. We Collected over 151 Items in February 2021!!!

Virtual NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago Annual Open Board Meeting November 30, 2020

11/30/2020 - NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago will be holding our Annual Open Board Meeting virtually via Zoom this year. We will be reporting on what our affiliate has accomplished this past year and electing our board members. If you would like to attend the annual meeting please contact us via email at namisouthsuburbsofchicago@gmail.com or on our affiliate phone at 1-708-335-4008

1st Annual BURGER FOR BLANKETS Fundraising Drive November 28, 2020

11/28/2020 - Help NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago to spread the warmth this holiday season by supporting us in our 1st annual ”BURGER FOR BLANKETS” fundraising drive on November 28, 2020 from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm at Epic Arts and Entertainment located at 96 Rivers Oaks Center Drive, Calumet City, IL 60409. We are partnering with Lassen’s Tap in Homewood, IL to collect 200 blankets to distribute to homeless shelters and families in need. A free burger coupon will be provided for each new blanket donated, redeemable at Lassen’s Tap located at 2131 183rd St Homewood, IL 60430 anytime from November 28th thru December 10, 2020. For more information on the event please contact us via email at namisouthsuburbsofchicago@gmail.com or on our affiliate phone at 1-708-335-4008

Virtual Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week Event on November 19, 2020

11/19/2020 - Please join us Thursday November 19, 2020 at 6:30 pm for a virtual event for Hunger and Homelessness Awareness week. We will be having a panel of distinguished speakers from Sertoma Centre, Thresholds, and The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless to discuss hunger and homelessness and mental health’s impact on one another. For more information or to register please contact us via email at namisouthsuburbsofchicago@gmail.com or on our affiliate phone at 1-708-335-4008

NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago Featured in The Daily Southtown

NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago Patriciapate in NAMI Walks Chicago 2018

NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago throughly enjoyed participating the NAMI Walks Chicago 2018 event the year and we are looking forward to next years walk. The weather was beautiful and we are happy to report that our Walk team raised at total of $2,645 Dollars this year. We hope that you may consider participating in the NAMI WAlks Chicago 2019 event next year. If interested please contact us on the NAMI South Suburbs of Chicago main line at 1-708-335-4008

Opioid Legislation Moving Forward

Next week, the House will consider multiple pieces of legislation to address the opioid epidemic, and many of these bills will improve mental health and substance use care.

Representatives will consider legislation that will:

• Make it easier for people who have Medicare to access telemedicine for mental health and substance use care (Access to Telehealth Services for Opioid Use Disorders Act - H.R. 5603);
• Require the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) cover mental health and substance use conditions (CHIP Mental Health Parity Act - H.R. 3192); and
• Allow people using Medicare Part D to get prior authorization electronically from their health care providers for needed medications (PASS Act of 2018 - H.R. 5773).

The House will also vote on a bill that will treat health information fairly across all conditions, improving outcomes for people with mental illness and substance use disorders. An outdated federal regulation known as 42 CFR Part 2 keeps health care providers from accessing information about a person’s substance use condition history, which may lead to inappropriately prescribing opioid medications or inadvertently triggering substance use relapse—and in some cases, leading to harmful health consequences and even drug overdose deaths.

H.R. 5795, the Protect the Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records Act, will align 42 CFR Part 2 with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations. This will allow for better integration and coordination of treatment—and better outcomes for people with mental health and substance use conditions

Act now. Ask your Representative to support these bills to address the opioid crisis and provide improved care for all people with mental health and substance use conditions. 

Email now.

Illinois Lawmakers Pass Bill for Innovative Early Treatment

Lawmakers Pass Bill Positioning Illinois as a Leader in Innovative Early Treatment for Mental Health and Substance Use

On strongly bi-partisan votes, the Illinois House and Senate have approved SB2951 - a groundbreaking piece of legislation that will make Illinois one of the first states in the country to create a treatment model specifically designed for youth and young adults experiencing their first symptoms of significant mental health conditions. SB2951 also allows for the delivery of clinical substance use treatment in community-based settings.

This legislation brings Illinois’ treatment system in line with a growing body of research that demonstrates the importance of treating the whole person with a comprehensive set of wrap-around services and meeting a person where they are by delivering treatment in the home or out in the community.

As Illinois works to combat the deadly opioid epidemic and a long-standing mental health crisis, the passage of this legislation represents a sea change. With limited coverage for early treatment, for far too long people struggling with mental health and substance use conditions have had few options for getting the care they need to live well and get back on track.

The right treatment at the right time can make a lifetime of difference.

Accessing a package of treatment services tailored to meet the needs of a person first experiencing a serious mental health condition or substance use condition can mean the difference between a longer, healthier life and a devastating and preventable spiral of repeat hospitalizations, homelessness, criminal justice involvement, and disability.

The treatment models included in the bill compliment the exciting new mental health and substance use pilot projects outlined in Illinois’ 1115 Medicaid Waiver, recently approved by the federal government. A proposal to strengthen access to First Episode Psychosis treatment, originally included in Illinois’ Waiver application but ultimately not approved, makes this legislation even more critical by filling these gaps in services.

SB2951 was introduced by Healthy Minds Healthy Lives (HMHL) and sponsored by Senator Melinda Bush (D – Grayslake) and Representative Sara Feigenholtz (D – Chicago) with support from legislative champion Senator Dale Righter (R – Mattoon). HMHL is a statewide advocacy coalition comprised of a diverse cross-section of stakeholders including people with lived experience, family support organizations, trade associations, policy experts, and treatment providers including Thresholds.

SB2951 now goes to the Governor for consideration.

*****************

For more on the SB2951, please see the bill fact sheet.

For more on the Healthy Minds Healthy Lives Coalition, visit their webpage.

13 Reasons Why

Here's some good information I received today, via email, about the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. 

Last spring the Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why, captured the attention of youth globally and created countless discussions among teens, families and schools about suicide prevention, mental health, bullying and more. At the same time, concerns were raised by mental health advocacy groups and experts, including our team at The Jed Foundation, about whether the series presented risks to some viewers because of how the show addressed some of these important and complicated issues. 

Given the response to the first season and the gravity of the topics season two would likely cover, we partnered with dozens of organizations and experts to develop a statement including recommendations around viewing the series. Following the release of the new season on Friday, we strongly encourage parents, educators and professionals to review and follow this guidance: 

• For vulnerable and at-risk youth (for example those living with depression or an anxiety disorder) we encourage families to make a thoughtful decision about whether or not to watch 13 Reasons Why because of the triggering impact it might have on them. Some of the story lines could be quite upsetting and result in them needing additional monitoring, support and/or treatment. We recommend using the show’s rating (TV-MA) as a source of guidance about the intensity of the content.
• If your teens do watch the series, make an effort to watch with them. This will allow you the opportunity to monitor the impact the show has on your child. It also affords you the chance to talk after each episode and ensure that they are comfortable enough to continue watching. We encourage viewers to watch the additional video resources provided by Netflix in which actors and experts discuss several of the issues portrayed in the show.  
• If you are not able to watch together, talk with your teens about their thoughts, reactions and feelings about the content. Check in with them multiple times as it can take a few days to process the content and they will likely continue to talk about the show with their peers. Let them know that they can come to you with questions or worries about themselves or their friends and that you will be there to listen and help guide them.
• Reassure youth that fiction and reality are not the same thing. Even though some might believe that what they have seen on television is or feels like reality, it is critical that you help them understand what is and is not reality and that the outcomes from the series do not have to be their outcomes.
• Learn what resources are available in your local community where you can find help if needed. These might include: a local public health agency, a mental health professional, the counselors at your child’s school, or a crisis phone service.  

While many of the issues highlighted in the series - sexual assault, suicide, gun violence, bullying, drugs and alcohol and more - are important for people to talk about and the show will encourage more conversations among families and in schools, the representation of some of those issues are particularly graphic, especially in episode 13, and may be triggering for some viewers.

Please visit 13reasonswhytoolkit.org for resources and information on these critical topics young people are facing today.

If you or someone you know needs help immediately, please don’t hesitate to reach out for support:

• Crisis Text Line: text “Hello” to 741741
• The Lifeline: call 800-273-TALK (8255)
• National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline: call 800-656-4673
• More on how to Get Help Now

In light of the gun violence depicted in 13 Reasons Why and the devastating school shootings on Friday, we want to remind you how to be safe if you are involved in an active shooting, urge media to follow guidelines for safe reporting on these incidents, and provide tips for discussing and coping with these terrible events.

What to do if you find yourself in an active shooting:

• RUN and escape, if possible. Call 911 once you're in a safe place. 
• HIDE, if escape is not possible. Once you feel safe, try to reach out for help silently (i.e. text, social media, email, put a sign up in the window). 
• FIGHT as an absolute last resort. The first response is never to confront an active shooter. 

The media can play an important role in preventing mass shootings. The first-ever Recommendations for Media Reporting on Mass Shootings were developed by a group of experts, including JED, in 2017. Learn more:

The Media’s Role in Preventing Mass Shootings

Learn more about taking care of yourself and others following a tragic or traumatic event:

Taking care of yourself and others following a tragic or traumatic event

Learn how to talk to young people about this difficult topic:

What’s the best way to talk about gun violence with kids?

Visit jedfoundation.org/help to learn more about emotional health issues and what to do if you’re worried about yourself or someone else.

There is a virus spreading across the country. It’s stigma. Do you have it?

During the month of May, NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, will observe Mental Health Month to raise awareness of mental illness. One in five adults in the United States lives with a mental health condition.

This year, NAMI is launching "CureStigma" a new campaign that builds on the successful #StigmaFree initiative and positions stigma as a “social virus” that is spreading across America. Stigma is a sign or sense of disgrace that sets someone apart from others. Navigating life with a mental health condition can be tough, and the isolation and blame that is often encouraged by stigma can create huge challenges to moving forward in one’s recovery journey.

“Stigma is dangerous for the millions of Americans affected by mental health conditions. It causes people to feel ashamed for something that is out of their control, prevents them from seeking help, and even takes lives,” said Mary Giliberti, CEO of NAMI. “Although stigma is a virus that anyone can be exposed to, we do have a cure, and that is compassion and understanding. We need to talk openly and raise our voices, so we can put an end to the fear and shame, and cure stigma once and for all.”

The campaign incorporates a new series of nationwide public service announcements (PSA) featuring NAMI Celebrity Ambassadors from film, television, music, and sports including Utkarsh Ambudkar, Andrea Barber, Maurice Bernard, Corinne Foxx, Clark Gregg, Jamie Gray Hyder, AJ Mendez, Sonya Nichols, Mauro Ranallo and Stolar. The PSA encourages viewers to visit curestigma.org, where visitors can take a brief quiz to see if they “are infected” by stigmatizing beliefs. Visitors will also receive information about how to “spread the cure” and will gain free access to a special emoji/sticker pack for their mobile phones.

Key mental health statistics include:

•  1 in 5 adults in the United States lives with a mental health condition.

•  1 in 25 (10 million) adults in the United States lives with a serious mental illness.

•  60 million people in the United States face the day-to-day reality of living with a mental illness.

•  Half of all lifetime mental health conditions begin by age 14 and 75 percent by age 24, but early intervention programs can help.

•  Additional facts and citations are available at Mental Health by the Numbers.

“The perception of mental illness won’t change unless we act to change it. So during Mental Health Month, we are asking everyone to join with NAMI to #CureStigma,” said Giliberti.

For additional information about Mental Health Month, to take the CureStigma quiz and to access CureStigma resources, please visit curestigma.org.

Upcoming Senate Vote

On Feb. 7, Congressional leaders announced they had reached a two-year budget agreement, which will guide the appropriations process to finalize a FY 2018 budget. The Senate and House are expected to vote on a “continuing resolution,” or CR, later today to fund the government through March 23 – giving Congress six weeks to finalize the details of the FY 2018 budget. This will be Congress’ fifth CR since the fiscal year began last Oct. 1.

While the CR is likely to pass the Senate later today, there is less certainty as to whether it can pass the House due to disagreement in several key areas, including the amount of new spending and immigration. The White House has indicated support for the agreement.

The agreement will increase defense and non-defense spending by nearly $300 billion over the next two years and includes multiple provisions that will impact people with mental illness: 

Increases in Opioid and Mental Health Funding: Includes $6 billion in additional funding over the next two years to address the opioid epidemic and fund mental health services. However, there are few details in the agreement on how these funds will be allocated.

Funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH): Includes an additional $2 billion for NIH over the next two years, which could increase funding for the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). While this is an increase, it is half of what both the House and Senate and advocacy community had initially proposed.

Extension of Health Care Programs: Extends the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for an additional four years through FY 2027 and extends funding for community health centers, which expired at the end of FY 2017, for two years.

Repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB): Created by the ACA, the IPAB has never been appointed. However, the board would serve as an unelected group with the power to make recommendations to cut Medicare expenditures if spending growth reached an arbitrary level. NAMI has long supported the repeal of the IPAB.

Closing the Medicare Part D “Donut Hole”: While closing the “donut hole” is important so that people with mental illness can receive needed prescriptions at more affordable levels, we are still assessing the implications of this provision. We’ll provide more information as details emerge.

NAMI will continue to monitor budget negotiations and let you know if there are opportunities to influence the process.

Learn More About The Art of Caregiving.

A Holiday Thank You to Our Caregivers
The holidays are here, and while it is a fun and festive time of year, an additional layer of stress can get added to everyday life. For those who give the daily gift of loving and caring for others, try to give some of that love and care to yourself this holiday season.
Read More »

Features on Caregivers

The Impact of Unconditional Support
"We all-too-often abandon those who need help—even our family members. It's difficult, I get it. I know how hard I was to deal with. But Carl stuck by me, as a living embodiment of our vows: 'in sickness and in health.'"
Read More »

Suicide: A Cry for Life
"So often, our culture concludes that suicide is a rejection of life, a willful refusal to live any longer, but I believe suicide is a statement that life can and should be so much more than pain or despair."
Read More »

Caregivers: When to Push and When to Show Extra Compassion
"My husband, Andrew, has schizophrenia. We've lived together for nearly 15 years and we've found success as a married couple, but our journey has been filled with many obstacles."
Read More »

How to Encourage Someone to See a Therapist
It's hard to watch someone you care about struggle with their mental health. It's even worse when you know they could benefit from professional help. But approaching an individual and encouraging them to seek therapy can be a tricky situation.
Read More »

Is Your Health Plan Violating Your Rights?

The data is in: the inequities for people seeking mental health care are real.

On November 30th, NAMI released its third nationwide parity report, The Doctor is Out. The report found that, despite the federal parity law, people lack the same access to mental health providers as they have for other medical providers.

“Treatment is very expensive, mostly out-of-network, and at least in the area we are in, there is a shortage of psychiatrists.” Cami

More than 1 out of 3 respondents (34%) with private insurance had difficulty finding a mental health therapist, compared to only 13% reporting difficulty finding a medical specialist.

And when people did find a mental health provider, many were forced to go out-of-network and pay high out-of-pocket costs. This happened at much higher rates than when seeking primary or even specialty medical care.

Over 1 in 4 people (28%) receiving mental health therapy used an out-of-network therapist, compared to only 7% needing to use an out-of-network medical specialist.

Now, a report from Milliman also found a pattern of stark differences in payment rates for mental health providers and access to mental health care under private health insurance across 50 states, three years and 42 million lives.

And this means that people with mental illness aren’t getting the care they deserve.

You can help fix this. Call or email Jennifer Hammer, Director of the Illinois Insurance Commission, 217-782-4515, jennifer.hammer@illinois.gov, and ask that they ensure that health plans in our state are not violating your parity rights.

Thank you for advocating for quality mental healthcare for all.

Urge Congress To Let Millions Keep Their Health Insurance

Congress is acting quickly to overhaul the U.S. tax code with sweeping tax reform legislation. Mental Health America needs your help now to stop the newest version of the bill in its tracks as long as it contains a repeal of the individual mandate.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R.1) passed the House of Representatives and the Senate Finance Committee last week. And now that the bill has momentum, Senators added a health proposal for which the President already signaled approval: elimination of the Affordable Care Act individual mandate. The idea to eliminate the individual mandate was brought into the tax reform conversation because Congress needs some way - any way - to offset billions of dollars in tax cuts for corporations and wealthy Americans.

While Congress is in their home states and districts this Thanksgiving recess, you can:

§  TWEET

§  POST

§  CALL

§  and SEND an email letting Congress know you’re against eliminating the individual mandate to pay for tax cuts.

The individual mandate - which requires people who choose not to carry health insurance to make a payment to the government to help cover the cost of health care subsidies - has helped lower health care premiums for everyone. Its repeal would not only increase premiums, it could cause an estimated 13 million people to become uninsured as a result. Studies have shown that uninsured people are less likely to seek treatment and more likely to wait until crisis or Stage 4 to finally get care.

Advocates like you – and us at Mental Health America – are fighting to ensure more people are insured and have access to care for mental health and substance use conditions Before Stage 4 #B4Stage4.

Take action now to help continue this fight!