14
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jessica Gruneich BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dr. Beverley Watkins, President Peter J. Dodge, Vice President Mary Pat Dejarnette, Secretary Royal Boeder, Treasurer Marion Endress James Fraser Jennifer Gerlach Priscilla Hammon James Isaac Amelia Jumper Amber Kaan Cathy Malear Kimberly McClellan Kelly Medlin April Scales Kris Gamm-Smith Larry Stevens Susy Woods NAMI Southwestern Illinois proudly serving the 12 IL counties of: See page 2 for HOTLINE phone #s & state crisis psychiatric services for the 12 counties of NAMI SWI. Bond Calhoun Clinton Greene Jersey Macoupin Madison Monroe Montgomery Randolph St. Clair Washington NAMI SWI Gateway Regional Medical Center 2100 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor Granite City, IL 62040 Website: http://namiswi.org E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (618) 798-9788 Fax: (866) 332-5338 October-November 2015 October 4 - October 10, 2015 Mental Illness Awareness Week Take the StigmaFree Pledge NAMI SWI is calling on everyone to learn the symptoms of mental illness conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia and to “go stigmaFree”. This is the perfect time for all to take the stigmaFree Pledge. One in five adults experience mental illness problems every year; however, 50 percent of chronic mental illness begins by age 14 and three-quarters by age 24. Although many people today un- derstand that mental illness is a medical condition, individuals and families affected by mental illness are still often subjected to stig- ma and discrimination. Individuals, companies, organizations and others can all take the pledge to learn more about mental illness, to see a person for who they are, and take action on mental health issues. Take the pledge to raise awareness: Learn about mental health. See the person not the illness. Take action—spread the word and help make a difference by raising awareness. Wear your green awareness ribbon. Take the stigmaFree pledge by clicking on the link below. Join the stigmaFree campaign today to learn more about what you can do to help and start replacing stigma with hope. Click here: http://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Raise-Awareness/ stigmaFree-Pledge.

October November 2015 · James Fraser. Jennifer Gerlach. Priscilla Hammon. James Isaac. Amelia Jumper. Amber Kaan. Cathy Malear Take the StigmaFree Pledge. Kimberly McClellan. Kelly

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Page 1: October November 2015 · James Fraser. Jennifer Gerlach. Priscilla Hammon. James Isaac. Amelia Jumper. Amber Kaan. Cathy Malear Take the StigmaFree Pledge. Kimberly McClellan. Kelly

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Jessica Gruneich

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dr. Beverley Watkins, President

Peter J. Dodge, Vice President

Mary Pat Dejarnette, Secretary

Royal Boeder, Treasurer

Marion Endress

James Fraser

Jennifer Gerlach

Priscilla Hammon

James Isaac

Amelia Jumper

Amber Kaan

Cathy Malear

Kimberly McClellan

Kelly Medlin

April Scales

Kris Gamm-Smith

Larry Stevens

Susy Woods

NAMI Southwestern Illinois

proudly serving the 12 IL counties of:

See page 2 for HOTLINE phone #s &

state crisis psychiatric services for the

12 counties of NAMI SWI.

Bond

Calhoun

Clinton

Greene

Jersey

Macoupin

Madison

Monroe

Montgomery

Randolph

St. Clair

Washington

NAMI SWI Gateway Regional Medical Center

2100 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor

Granite City, IL 62040

Website: http://namiswi.org

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: (618) 798-9788

Fax: (866) 332-5338 October-November 2015

October 4 - October 10, 2015

Mental Illness Awareness Week

Take the StigmaFree Pledge

NAMI SWI is calling on everyone to learn the symptoms of

mental illness conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and

schizophrenia and to “go stigmaFree”. This is the perfect time for

all to take the stigmaFree Pledge. One in five adults experience mental illness problems every

year; however, 50 percent of chronic mental illness begins by age

14 and three-quarters by age 24. Although many people today un-

derstand that mental illness is a medical condition, individuals and

families affected by mental illness are still often subjected to stig-

ma and discrimination. Individuals, companies, organizations and others can all take the

pledge to learn more about mental illness, to see a person for who

they are, and take action on mental health issues. Take the pledge to

raise awareness:

Learn about mental health.

See the person not the illness.

Take action—spread the word and

help make a difference by raising awareness.

Wear your green awareness ribbon.

Take the stigmaFree pledge by clicking on the link below. Join

the stigmaFree campaign today to learn more about what you can

do to help and start replacing stigma with hope. Click here:

http://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Raise-Awareness/

stigmaFree-Pledge.

Page 2: October November 2015 · James Fraser. Jennifer Gerlach. Priscilla Hammon. James Isaac. Amelia Jumper. Amber Kaan. Cathy Malear Take the StigmaFree Pledge. Kimberly McClellan. Kelly

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1 Mental Illness Awareness Week

2 Table of Contents

2 Moving???

2 Newsletter Due Date

2 Social Media

2 Hotline Information

3 A Letter from NAMI SWI President, Beverley Watkins

3 Certified Recovery Support Specialists

3 708 Boards

3 Are You a Blogger?

4 NAMI SWI Support Meeting Locations/Times/Contacts

5 Other Local Support Meetings

6 Recovery Conference “Opening Doors to Success”

6 Breathe Easy with AIR

6 The Power of the Green Ribbon

7 NAMI SWI Volunteer Spotlight Is On…

7 Holiday Shopping--eBay Giving Works/AmazonSmile

8 Executive Director’s Report

9 VOLUNTEERS

10 Allsup Blog, August 31, 2015

10 Belleville News Democrat & Edwardsville Intelligencer

10 IL Warm Line - (866) 359-7953

10 Message from NAMI Llama

11 NAMI Illniois Announces Two Teacher Trainings

11 NAMI Illinois Conference

12 Hospital Beds for People Suffering ...Condition

13 Photos

14 What is NAMI SWI?

BOND COUNTY

Prairie Counseling Center

(618) 664-1455 (8:30AM - 4:00PM)

After hours, call Greenville Hospital (618) 664-1234

CALHOUN COUNTY

JERSEY COUNTY

WellSpring Resources (618) 639-2016 (Call 24/7)

CLINTON COUNTY

Community Resource Center

(618) 533-1391 (Call 24/7)

GREENE COUNTY

MACOUPIN COUNTY

Locust Street Resource Center

Weekdays only - (217) 854-3166

After hours/weekend - (217) 854-3135 calls go to

Police Department who will notify a crisis worker

NORTHERN MADISON COUNTY

WellSpring Resources (618) 465-4388 (Call 24/7)

SOUTHERN MADISON COUNTY

Chestnut Health Systems

(618) 877-0316 (Call 24/7)

MONROE COUNTY

Human Support Services

(618) 939-4444 (8:00AM-4:30PM)

After hours, dial 911; Police will contact crisis worker

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

County Health Dept. - Hillsboro

1-888-324-5052 (Call 24/7)

WESTERN ST. CLAIR COUNTY

Comprehensive Behavioral Health

(618) 482-7330 (Call 24/7)

EASTERN ST. CLAIR COUNTY

Chestnut Health Systems

(618) 877-0316 (Call 24/7)

RANDOLPH COUNTY

WASHINGTON COUNTY

Human Service Center

(618) 282-6233 (8:00AM-4:30PM)

After hours, dial 911; Police will contact crisis worker

____________

Hotline Information

Website WordPress Twitter Facebook

If you move, don’t forget to call the NAMI

SWI Office at (618) 798-9788 or send an email

to [email protected] with your new address,

phone number and email.

Dec 2015 - Jan 2016 newsletter articles due

Nov 15th

Email your articles to Newsletter Editor, Sandy, AND to Webmaster, Mary,

at [email protected] & [email protected], respectively, on or before due date of ...Nov 15th!!!!

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Hello Everyone, September 15, 2015

As we move into autumn, NAMI SWI continues to grow and flourish under the

capable leadership of Jessica Gruneich, JD, Executive Director. Thank you, Jessica,

for all your recent and successful efforts!

Let’s start with the really fun part! I have many thank yous and shout-outs this

month for members and supporters.

Thanks to Ann Barnum, Mary Ann Miller, Amber Kaan, Mary Gruneich, Herbert Lomax, Marianne

Kohrman, Kim McClellan and Sharon Zenik for completing our affiliate Parents and Teachers as Allies

training on August 1st, 2015. Our own Donne Reedy conducted the training for NAMI SWI.

Thank you, Kami Bonnell, Marie Krysnoski, John Person, Cheryl Rivers, Jamie Miller, Megan Munzert, Marion Endress, Tricia

Hogan, Cindy Mayhew, and Cathy Schultz for completing NAMI Connection and Recovery Support Group Facilitator training on

September 18th and 19th.

Thanks to Ann Barnum for coordinating our Allsup Post for a Purpose Blog about Suicide Prevention and Awareness, which has

provided financial benefit to NAMI SWI.

Thanks to Mary Gauen, Webmaster, who is working on completing mobile formatting and capabilities etc. for our website.

Kim McClellan and Eugene Luster are starting a new support group for parents and caregivers of children and adolescents with

mental health challenges on September 21st in East St. Louis. The new group will be under the sponsorship of NAMI SWI. Kim and

Eugene are doing a great job with East St. Louis outreach.

Peer to Peer leaders, Marian Endress and Tricia Hogan have completed the requirements as Certified Recovery Support Special-

ists (CRSS). Congratulations, Marian and Tricia!

A big shout out to all of the individuals mentioned above for your efforts on behalf of our affiliate!

We will be participating in the Region 5 Division of Mental Recovery Conference at Our Lady of the Snows Shrine Conference

Center in October. NAMI SWI had a table at the When Mental Illness Hits Home Conference at the Shrine on August 28 th. I

attended along with Jessica and De Familia-a-Familia leaders, Elfrend and Carlos Garcia.

Jessica, Kim McClellan and four of her sons (Youth MOVE members: Alan Williams, Fabian Luster, Seth Luster, and Ryan

Luster) and I attended the Sharing our Stories Conference for youth and parents at Belleville East High School on August 29 th.

Thank you, Dr. Dawn Porter, for putting this fun and informative event together.

De Familia-a-Familia has launched as our first Spanish language signature program offering on September 8 th, 2015 taught by

Elfrend and Carlos Garcia. We also have a new Family to Family class which just started in Edwardsville.

Jessica, Mary Pat DeJarnette, and I attended the first United Way Fundraising training in August. Peter Dodge, Mary Pat

DeJarnette, and I attended the second of the four trainings on September 12th. The training is truly awesome. We have been gaining

valuable knowledge about sending messages that “sizzle” to potential donors, perfecting the art and science of “the ask,” and

developing an effective fundraising plan. We are looking forward to the third and fourth session.

Our United Way Site Visit will occur on October 27th, 2015 at Gateway Regional. Jessica has been diligently preparing, and we

expect it to go well. We have our increased 708 Board funding, additional programming, and a solid budget to report on our site

visit.

Thank you all for your ongoing support and participation in NAMI Southwestern Illinois.

Regards,

Beverley Watkins, Ph.D., LCSW

President, NAMI Southwestern IL

Certified Recovery Support Specialists (CRSS)

Congratulations to NAMI SWI members

Tricia Hogan and Marion Endress!! By the

time this newsletter goes to print, Marion

and Tricia will have already completed the

IL Certified Recovery Support Specialist

(CRSS) credential, overseen by the Illinois Certification Board.

Marion and Tricia also teach NAMI Peer to Peer Education

courses for our affiliate.

Again...by the time you receive this newsletter, both Marion

and Tricia will have also completed NAMI Connection Support

Group facilitator training on September 19, 2015.

Well done, Marion and Tricia! Looking forward to collab-

orating in the future! ____________

708 Boards

NAMI SWI extends a big thank you

to the Madison & St Clair County 708

Boards. NAMI SWI appreciates their

continued support with Family Member Support Groups &

Connection and Recovery Support Groups. Additionally,

their support has made possible the following Fall 2015

educational classes upcoming for our affiliate: NAMI

Family-to-Family, Basics, and Peer to Peer courses.

For information on support groups and educational pro-

gramming call (618) 798-9788 visit namiswi.org or email

[email protected].

____________

Are You A Blogger?

If so, NAMI SWI can use your

help!! NAMI SWI is looking for

volunteers interested in blogging on

the NAMI SWI WordPress Blog. If

you’d like to help NAMI SWI by vol-

unteering, please email our Executive

Director, Jessica Gruneich, at [email protected].

THANKS!

_____________

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When Southwestern Ill College (SWIC) classes are

cancelled because of bad weather (snow, sleet, etc.),

NAMI support meetings are also cancelled. SWIC can-

cellation notices will be broadcast on all major TV and

radio stations in the St. Louis area.

If there is a tornado watch or warning for the area

where a support meeting is to be held during the time

frame of 6:00-9:00PM, that support meeting will be also

be cancelled. ____________

NAMI SWI CONNECTION RECOVERY SUPPORT GROUPS

BELLEVILLE (St. Clair County) Second Friday of each month, a support meeting for individuals living with mental illness, 3:30-5:00PM, Chestnut

Health Systems 12 N. 64th St., Belleville, IL 62223. NEW contact Matt G. at [email protected].

EDWARDSVILLE (Madison County) First Wednesday of each month, a support meeting for individuals living with mental illness, 12:00-1:30pm, SIUE,

#1 Circle Drive, Edwardsville, IL 62026, Center for Spirituality, Room MLK. For more information NEW contact

Matt G. at [email protected]. NOTE: The meeting on the third Wednesday of each month has been discontinued. GRANITE CITY (Madison County) First Tuesday of each month, a support meeting for individuals living with mental illness, 6:30-8:00PM at Gateway

Regional Medical Center, 2100 Madison Ave, Granite City, IL 62040, in the Pascal Hall Meeting Room. Use the main

entrance, sign in, and then immediately make a left. Pascal Hall is the last room on the left. NEW contact

Matt G. at [email protected].

NAMI SWI MILITARY FAMILIES SUPPORT GROUP MARYVILLE (Madison County)

NOTE: NAMI military and veteran family support group is relocating to a new site starting with the October

meeting. For more information, contact Peter Dodge at (734) 330-6776 or by email at [email protected].

OTHER NAMI SWI SUPPORT GROUPS BELLEVILLE (St. Clair County)

Third Tuesday of each month, a support group for Family Members and Individuals Living with Mental Illness,

7:00-8:30PM, St. Matthew’s Methodist Church, 1200 Moreland Drive, Belleville IL 62223, in the library. Use the

Fellowship Hall entrance from parking lot. Contact Mike or Kathy Janik (618) 277-5459.

EAST ST. LOUIS (St. Clair County) NEW Meeting

Third Monday of each month, a support group meeting for parents/caregivers of children & adolescents with brain

disorders, 6:00-8:00PM. For location and more information contact Kim McClellan by email at

[email protected] or by phone at (618) 407-9081.

EDWARDSVILLE (Madison County)

Fourth Tuesday of each month, a support meeting for Family Members, 7:00-8:30PM, First Baptist Church, 534

St. Louis St., Edwardsville, IL 62025; use church parking lot entrance. NEW Contact Pat Rudloff at (618) 656-6781.

GREENVILLE (Bond County)

Third Tuesday of each month, a support meeting for Family Members, 7:00-8:30PM, at St. Lawrence Catholic

Church, 512 S. Prairie Street Greenville, IL 62246. For more information contact Linda Methvin at (618) 541-2407.

WATERLOO (Monroe County)

Second Monday of every month, support meeting for Family Members, 7:00-8:30PM, at the Immanuel Lutheran

Church, 522 S. Church Street, Waterloo, IL 62298. For more information contact Royal Boeder at (618) 340-8825.

____________

NOTE: For questions or more information about

any of these meetings, please call the facilitator at the

phone number/email provided for that particular

meeting.

More information is also available on NAMI SWI

website namiswi.org. Questions can be emailed to

[email protected] or call the office at (618)798-9788.

____________

SUPPORT GROUPS

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St. Louis Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Support Group: 3rd Saturday of each month,

10:00AM to Noon at Missouri Baptist Hospital

Auditorium #1, 3015 N. New Ballas Road, Creve

Coeur, MO 63141. Contact: Jan at (314) 291-7556.

DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance)

of Madison County Meeting: Every Monday

at 7:00PM, Anderson Hospital, Maryville, IL,

on Level B, behind cafeteria. Facilitated by

Nicole Meyers (618) 225-7709.

DBSA of Hope - Belleville: Every Tuesday at

7:00PM AND every Saturday at Noon, St.

Elizabeth Hospital, 211 S. 3rd St., Belleville,

IL, 7th Floor, Room 722. Facilitated by Lisa

Wojick at (618) 581-4179 and Roger Wegener

(618) 444-6927.

DBSA of Hope, Belleville: Every Thursday,

6:00PM, at Call for Help-Recovery Support

Center, 9400 Lebanon Rd, Edgemont, IL, 1st

building, use side entrance. Contact John

Wuest (618) 397-0968, ext 109.

GROW meeting for individuals living with mental

illness, every Wednesday, 7:00PM at St. Bartholo-

mew’s Episcopal Church, 2167 Grand Ave, Granite

City, IL 62040. Contact Sharon at (618) 977-1133.

GROW meeting for individuals living with mental

illness, every Thursday, 7:00PM at St. Elizabeth’s

Hospital, 211 S. Third St., Room 729, Belleville, IL

62221. Contact Sharon at (618) 977-1133.

ADHD Support Group: Please contact facilita-

tor Kristen Weber at (618) 406-0842 or email kris-

[email protected] more information.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call toll-free

1-800-273-TALK (8255) or go to their website at

http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ Youth M.O.V.E.: meets concurrently with Family

Voices Parent & Caregiver Group above. Same time,

same location, but separate room. Contacts for

Youth M.O.V.E. Group are Jennifer Johnston at

[email protected] and Beverley

Watkins at [email protected].

Emotions Anonymous: A Twelve Step Program for

Those Seeking Emotional Health - Meets every Tues-

day evening 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Latzer Memorial Li-

brary 1001 9th St. Highland IL (use lower level chil-

dren’s library entrance). . For more information call

Jackie 618-654-9351 or JoAn 618-654-9874.

Nar A Non: meeting for families seeking help and

support who are facing dual diagnosis issues. Every

Monday, 7:00PM at Bridge Church, Steiss Road,

Glen Carbon, IL 62034. For more information call

618-973-6863.

Karla Smith Foundation Support Group for family

and friends of anyone with mental illness: 1st and 3rd

Thursday of each month, 7:00–8:30PM, Peace

Chapel, 10101 W. Main St., Belleville. For more

information call Tom or Fran Smith at (618) 624-

5771 or send email to @karlasmithfoundation.org.

Belleville Location—Karla Smith Foundation

Suicide Survivor Support Group: 2nd & 4th Thur. of

each month, 7:00 – 8:30PM, Peace Chapel, 10101

W. Main St., Belleville. For more information call

Tom or Fran Smith at (618) 624-5771 or send email

to [email protected].

Karla Smith Foundation Support Group in St Lou-

is for family and friends of anyone with mental ill-

ness: 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month, 7:00 -

8:30PM, Lutheran Family and Children's Services,

8639 Delmar, St. Louis, MO 63132. For information

contact Linda or Jim Murphey 314) 481-0008 or

[email protected] Friday Night Social: for persons living with mental

health conditions on the first Friday of each month

from 7:00 - 8:30PM, 607 Vandalia, Suite 500, Col-

linsville, IL. Contact Jen Gerlach by phone (636)

358-1800 or send email to [email protected].

REFRESH (formerly Family Voices Parent & Care-

giver Group in Fairview Heights) IS ON HOLD

TILL FURTHER NOTICE. Questions, contact

Kim McClellan at 618-407-9081 or email at

[email protected].

Youth M.O.V.E. meets concurrently with Family

Voices Parent & Caregiver Group above. Same time,

same location, but separate room. Contacts for

Youth M.O.V.E. Group are Jennifer Johnston at

[email protected] and Beverley

Watkins at [email protected].

REFRESH (formerly R.E.S.T. Parent & Caregiver

Group in Alton) IS ON HOLD TILL FURTHER

NOTICE. Questions, contact Kimberley McClellan

at (618) 855-4806 or send email to

[email protected].

____________

OTHER LOCAL SUPPORT MEETINGS

CONTACT PERSONS: Please check that

the information (time, location, contact

info, etc.) for your meeting is still current.

Send any changes to NAMI SWI Newsletter

Editor, Sandy at [email protected] and

to Webmaster, Mary, at [email protected].

ATTENDEES: These support group meetings are not

affiliated with NAMI SWI. For questions please call or email

the contact person for that particular meeting.

____________

New contact

New contact

New location

NOTE

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Recovery Conference

“Opening Doors to Success”

The nineteenth Annual Recovery

Conference is scheduled for Friday,

October 2, 2015, from 9am to 3:15pm

with registration beginning at 8am. It will be held at the

National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville

Join us for an inspiring message from our keynote

speaker, Herbert Cobbs. Herb prides his recovery jour-

ney in which he turned full circle. Living in a cardboard

box on the streets on the south side of Chicago, eventually

led Herbert to several incarcerations and receiving mental

health services. Sober for 15 years now, Herb is currently

helping others reach success in their recovery as the Coor-

dinator of the drop-in center at Community Counseling

Centers of Chicago. Herb is now a homeowner and lives

with his wife and family on the south side of Chicago.

After the keynote presentation there will be a live

WRAP for an hour. A WRAP class will be demonstrated

and the audience will join the class sharing in the group

discussion of the topics.

Other highlights: Afternoon Recovery & Wellness

Workshops; Information Tables; and Consumer Art Show.

The cost is FREE and lunch will be provided. For more

information or questions, contact Cindy at 618-474-3813

or [email protected].

_____________

Breathe Easy with AIR

What is Air? AIR (Anonymous Inspiring Relatable) is

the new NAMI app, a free, mobile-based social network

designed for individuals living with mental health condi-

tions and their family members/caregivers. NAMI AIR is

intended to provide another way for people to find and

give support, to connect with others through smart phone

and computer tablet. AIR encourages users to anonymous-

ly share their stories and receive feedback in the form of

social interactions such as “like,” “hug” and “me too.”

Also allows users to access information on how to get

help, learn more about NAMI and connect with the NAMI

HelpLine. AIR facilitates personal connections with others

who may be going through, or have been through, similar

situations. Users are anonymous but not alone.

How do I start using NAMI AIR? After AIR is down-

loaded through the Apple and Android App Stores, users

will start by creating an account and selecting a group to

join. Individual living with a mental health condition

Family member or caregiver What posts you see are

determined by the path you chose (for example, If you am

a caregiver or family member, the stories you see on your

feed will also be from caregivers or family members). You

can “toggle” between these two groups—so you can

choose to engage in one group, then select the other,

allowing you to interact in both communities. However,

you will not be able to interact in both at the same time.

How do users know that my information is safe and

confidential? Users don’t create any sort of username

while signing up. All posts are completely anonymous.

The only information you give is your email address.

Email addresses are only used for sign in and in case of an

emergency. So you can be assured that your posts and

participation are completely anonymous. Find out more by

reading the NAMI Air EULA and Privacy Policy. - See

more at: http://www.nami.org/Find-Support/Air-

App#sthash.JBxIZIv1.dpuf ____________

The Power of the Green Ribbon

by Sandy Giger

These little green awareness ribbons really do spark

conversations. Last month my husband & I were at an

airport and I was wearing a hat with the green

awareness pin on it. One of the employees at

the airport that I was talking to was wearing the

pink ribbon pin and asked me what my green

ribbon pin was for? I explained that it was to

promote mental health awareness. I told her

that the brain can get sick too & that persons with mental

illnesses should not be stigmatized because of it.

I felt really good knowing that I possibly made a

difference in her line of thinking toward mental illness.

Please wear your green ribbons not just this month

during Mental Illness Awareness Week or during Mental

Health Awareness Month in May - wear them ALL the

time. Education is the KEY!! By working together,

we CAN make a difference.

If you misplaced your pin, pick one up from any of the

support group facilitators or call the office and make

arrangements to pick one up.

REMEMBER: The power of breaking down stigma

begins with a single story.

____________

S U C C E S

We wish our NAMI friends a safe Halloween and a very

blessed Thanksgiving!

Mary Gauen Sandy Giger Tom Giger

Jess Gruneich David Malear Carol Morrow Lynn Piggott

NAMI Llama

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NAMI SWI VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT IS ON…………

Our affiliate is proud to announce that Linda Methvin is the NAMI

SWI spotlight volunteer!! Linda has been instrumental in helping our affiliate

grow into the organization we all know today, by providing leadership and

enthusiasm for NAMI’s mission of education, support, and advocacy for per-

sons affected by brain disorders and their families. Linda has been a NAMI

member since 2012. Linda facilitates the NAMI SWI monthly Greenville, IL

Family Member Support Group, which meets the 3rd Tuesday of every

month at St Lawrence Catholic Church 512 S Prairie Street, Greenville, IL

62246 7-8:30pm. Linda has worked to grow the affiliate presence in Bond

County and coordinates information on behalf of our affiliate with the Bond

County Health Department regarding upcoming NAMI SWI programs and presentations. Our affiliate ex-

tends a huge “THANKS” to Linda for all her time and talents to help provide help and hope to individuals

and family members affected by brain disorders!!

If you want to find a NAMI SWI Support Group or if you’d like to start a support group in your area,

please call the office at 618-798-9788 or email [email protected]. You can find the support group infor-

mation also by logging onto namiswi.org!!!

LINDA METHVIN!

Let the walk begin... Let the walk begin...

HOLIDAY SHOPPING!!

If you shop online with

either eBay or Amazon, you

can support NAMI SWI while

you’re shopping. NAMI SWI

will earn money when you

purchase from AmazonSmile (instead of Amazon.com)

and Ebay Giving Works (rather than Ebay).

You account info does not change. The only change is

that NAMI will reap some donations because of your

purchase. It is a simple and automatic way for you to

support your favorite charitable organization every time.

eBay Giving Works

Helping people support great

causes: NAMI SWI is now available

as a charity on eBay Giving Works.

Through eBay Giving Works you can

support the causes that matter most to

you - by buying and/or selling on eBay. EBay Giving

Works help nonprofits connect to over 145 million eBay

community members to raise money.

Integrated into eBay's regular buying and selling

platform, eBay Giving Works makes it easy for people to

support important causes, both in the U.S. and abroad. It

enables sellers to donate a portion of their sales and buyers

to shop while supporting their favorite charities — all the

while giving your nonprofit an opportunity to engage new

supporters.

HERE’S HOW TO SET UP YOUR FAVORITE

CHARITY ON EBAY GIVING WORKS: go to

http://givingworks.ebay.com, then click on “browse

charities”, choose “health & sport” from the drop down

menu. Scroll down to “NAMI Southwestern Illinois” and

click “Add to my charities”. That’s it…you are now ready

to buy and/or sell on eBay.

Amazon Smile

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic

way for you to support your favorite

charitable organization every time you

shop, at no cost to you. You just order

items like before except you’re ordering

from AmazonSmile rather than Amazon.

You use the same account on AmazonSmile as you do on

Amazon.com. Your shopping cart, Wish List, wedding or

baby registry, log-in, and other account settings are also

the same.

HERE’S HOW TO SET UP YOUR FAVORITE

CHARITY ON AMAZON SMILE: simply go to

smile.amazon.com. On your first visit, you need to select

your favorite charitable organization before you begin

shopping. Select “NAMI SOUTHWESTERN IL-

GRANITE CITY, IL". Then...let the shopping begin!!!

Amazon Smile will even remember your charity selec-

tion, and then every purchase you make at

smile.amazon.com will result in a donation to NAMI

SWI. The AmazonSmile Foundation donates 0.5% of the

purchase price from your AmazonSmile purchases.

____________

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8

...Jessica L. Gruneich, J.D.

September 8, 2015

Office Administration:

United Way welcomed all area Executive Director’s to the annual ED meetings held at Gateway Regional Medical Center on

August 18, 2015. The United Way shared information on the Allocation Review Process and multiple committees working on

specifically aligning the allocations process for all divisions. The United Way is examining moving to a two-year funding cycle,

with annual agency site visits every other year. This policy would not take effect until 2017. NAMI SWI is completing a Fund

Development Program training in partnership with the United Way. The Executive Committee is working with numerous NAMI

SWI members, donors, and volunteers. NAMI SWI is scheduled for our annual site visit on October 27, 2015. Thanks very much

to Executive Committee members, Beverley Watkins, Peter Dodge, Royal Boeder, and Mary Pat DeJarnette for all your exper-

tise in ensuring a successful site visit!!

Congratulations to NAMI SWI members and Peer to Peer Instructors Marion Endress & Tricia Hogan!! Marion & Tricia

completed the IL Certification program for CRSS-Certified Recovery Support Specialist—we look forward to future collabora-

tive projects!! National Suicide Prevention Week is Sept 7-13, 2015. To promote suicide prevention NAMI SWI is partnering

with Allsup Inc, in their “Post for a Purpose” campaign. Please log into NAMI SWI’s Facebook page to learn how to support this

joint effort.

On September 10, 2015, National Suicide Prevention Day, NAMI SWI is collaborating with SIUE School of Pharmacy, Col-

lege of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists at the SIUE campus. The School of Pharmacy will have handouts from NAMI

and QPR—Question, Persuade, and Refer, suicide prevention training. Special thanks to Rachael Kozinski, Student President,

SIUE, College of Pharmacy.

Thank you to Tom Giger for editing the new 2016 NAMI SWI Adult and Child & Adolescent Resource Guides. Thank you to

Sandy Giger for updating the Support Group Flyer. Thank you to Mary Gauen and David Malear for your work on formatting the

affiliate website with mobile capabilities. Thank you to members Lisa McMichael, Kami Bonnell, and Shirlee Byrd for volunteer-

ing in the NAMI SWI office.

NAMI SWI Programming Updates:

NAMI SWI completed a local Parents and Teachers as Allies training at Anderson Hospital in Maryville, IL on August 1,

2015. Parents and Teaches as Allies is a free 90 minute presentation offered to school personnel, administration, other staff, etc.

Special thanks to our State Trainer Donna Reedy for leading the training. NAMI SWI members completing the PTA training:

Ann Barnum, Mary Ann Miller, Kim McClellan, Amber Kaan, Sharon Zenik, Herbert Lomax, Jen Gerlach, Mary Gruneich, and

Marianne Kohrmann—we appreciate your time and dedication to the program!!

NAMI SWI will be attending a local NAMI Connection and Recovery Support Group training at Gateway Regional in Granite

City, IL Sept 18-20, 2015. NAMI SWI members who will complete the facilitator training are Kami Bonnell, Marion Endress,

Tricia Hogan, Jamie Miller, Megan Munzert, Marie Krysnoski, John Person, Cara Emrich, Cathy Schultz, Cindy Mayhew, and

Cheryl Rivers

We appreciate everyone’s dedication to recovery, rehabilitation, and empowerment. I look forward to working with you all!

Community Collaboration:

August 7: NAMI SWI Toby Gross Memorial Hockey Game St. Louis, MO

August 12: Hispanic Leaders Group St. Louis, MO

August 14: Troy Chamber of Commerce Back to School Event Troy, IL

August 22: United Way Fund Development Granite City, IL

August 28: “When Mental Illness Hits Home” Conference Belleville, IL

August 29: “Sharing Our Stories” Conference Belleville, IL

September 9: De Familia-a-Familia Education Fairmont City, IL

September 10: SIUE School of Pharmacy Suicide Prevention outreach Edwardsville, IL

September 10: Family to Family Education Edwardsville, IL

September 22: Peer to Peer Education Swansea, IL

October 2: 19th Annual Recovery Conference Belleville, IL

Jessica Gruneich, J.D.

Executive Director, NAMI SWI

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9

Volunteers Representing NAMI SWI

for Events/Projects or Teaching Classes Since

Last Newsletter Through September 15, 2015

Aug 6: Kim McClellan at the Molina Healthcare Commu-

nity Wellness Fair in East. St. Louis, IL.

Aug 7: Marion Endress at the Tobias Gross Memorial

Hockey Game Benefit St. Louis Mills St. Louis, Mo.

Aug 12: Carlos & Efrend Garcia at the Hispanic Leaders

Group presentation at Ameren IL in St. Louis, Mo.

Aug 14: Amber Kaan & Sharon Zenik at the Troy Cham-

ber of Commerce Back to School kick off event Troy, IL.

Aug 15: Carlos and Efrend Garcia at the “When Mental

Illness Hits Home” Conference in Belleville, IL.

Aug 22: Beverley Watkins & Mary Pat DeJarnette at the

United Way Fund Development training Granite City, IL.

Aug 28: Beverley Watkins, Carlos and Efrend Garcia at

the annual “When Mental Illness Hits Home” Conference

Belleville, IL.

Aug 29: Beverley Watkins, Mary Pat DeJarnette, and

Kim McClellan at the Sharing Our Stories Conference at

Belleville East High School Belleville, IL.

Sept 1: Ann Barnum coordinated the NAMI SWI Allsup

Post for a Purpose Suicide Prevention Fundraising Cam-

paign.

Sept 3: Roger and Judi Boker began teaching 9-week

NAMI Family to Family Education in Edwardsville, IL.

Sept 9: Carlos and Efrend Garcia began teaching NAMI

De Familia a Familia Education for NAMI SWI in Fairmont

City, IL.

Sept 10: Beverley Watkins at Christ Church’s Suicide

Prevention and Awareness Panel Discussion Fairview

Heights, IL.

Sept 11: Bill Jeffreys at the annual O’Fallon High School

Wellness Fair O’Fallon, IL.

Sept 12: Kami Bonnell at the annual Troy, IL Fall

Community Expo Troy, IL.

Sep 12: Beverley Watkins, Peter Dodge, & Mary Pat

DeJarnette at the United Way Fund Development training

Granite City, IL. ____________________

Monthly Volunteers

Webmaster Mary Gauen for keeping the website current

and user-friendly.

Tom Giger for coordinating NAMI SWI brochures,

resource guides, community directories, and overseeing the

office equipment and keeping Kettler lobby stocked with

brochures!

NAMI SWI Social Media Coordinator Ann Barnum.

NAMI SWI Helpline Volunteers: Bill Jeffreys, Ann

Barnum, Amanda Corrado, Joan Foster, Claudia Voris,

and Bev Churchill!

Linda Methvin who facilitates the Greenville, IL family

member support group!

Mike and Kathy Janik who facilitate the NAMI SWI

Belleville Support Group Meeting.

Pat Rudloff who facilitates the NAMI SWI Edwardsville

Support Group Meeting!

Peter Dodge who facilitates the Maryville Military

Families Support Group!

Kim McClellan started the new NAMI SWI Child &

Adolescent Family Member/Caregiver support group meet-

ing in East St. Louis, IL.

Royal Boeder who is facilitating the Waterloo, IL family

member support group in Monroe County!

Our NAMI SWI IOOV Presenters: Katie Crockett, Dan

Crockett, Sharon Diaz, Dani Robinette, Heather Harris,

Jen Gerlach, Pat Norris, AJ French, Melody Corbin, &

Jeremy Lincicum!

Shirlee Byrd, Jen Gerlach, Matt Gauen, John Malson,

and Patrick Norris who facilitate the Connection Recov-

ery Support Group meetings in Edwardsville and Granite

City!

Jim Isaac, Mary Gauen, Matt Gauen, Ann Barnum, and

Marilyn Vise for working on the marketing team!

Tom Johnson who is our NAMI SWI CIT Project Leader!

Chestnut Health Systems & WellSpring Resources who

have been printing our newsletters for many years as a

service to NAMI SWI!

Pat Rudloff for coordinating NAMI SWI press releases in

Madison County!

NAMI SWI Newsletter team including: Mary Gauen, Tom

and Sandy Giger, Jessica Gruneich, David Malear, Carol

Morrow, Lynn Piggott and NAMI Llama!

Jessica Gruneich for setting up NAMI SWI as an available

charity with AmazonSmile & eBay Giving Works too!

Kami Bonnell, Shirlee Byrd and Lisa McMichael have

volunteered weekly at the NAMI SWI office!

Bill Jeffreys is the NEW NAMI SWI Helpline Coordinator!

Board Development Committee consisting of Bev Watkins,

Peter Dodge, Royal Boeder, Mary Pat DeJarnette, Tom

Johnson, Jim Isaac, Cathy Malear and Jessica

Gruneich!

NAMI Llama for being an awesome mascot!!!

____________

“Volunteers are not paid — not because they are

worthless, but because they are priceless.”

As a grassroots organization, NAMI relies on volunteers. Special thanks to ALL volunteers for your awesome work!! MEMBERS: If a project strikes your fancy and you’d like to help with it or just to find out more information about it, call

the NAMI Office at 618-798-9788 . We’d love hearing from you!!

VOLUNTEERS: Don’t forget to email your volunteer hours to [email protected].

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Allsup Blog, August 31, 2015

by Guest Blogger, Jessica Gruneich,

Executive Director, NAMI SWI

Mental Illness is Not A Casserole Illness –

Suicide Prevention Week is Sept 7-13

What does the general public think when they see or

hear the phrase “suicide prevention”?

What thoughts and feelings does the phrase invoke in

you?

The answer depends on our personal, lived experiences.

Many people may feel fortunate and thankful; some may

even be a bit pompous, thinking that mental illness and

suicide would never touch their family.

Others who have lost a loved one to suicide experience

shock, sorrow, regret, anger, overwhelming guilt…the per-

sistent feeling that they could have/should have known,

done something to prevent the horrible tragedy.

Perhaps the most damaging feeling of all is shame due

to the stigma associated with mental illnesses. It is terribly

sad for families to experience the double-edged sword of

loss and shame due to the stigma of mental illness.

Mental illnesses are medical, biological based illnesses

that affect the brain. When an individual experiences a

major physical illness, such as a heart attack or stroke,

many friends and neighbors in the community reach out

with care, compassion and a casserole, offering love and

support during difficult and tumultuous times.

Families and individuals experiencing a mental illness

rarely receive any community support and compassionate

care.

Any meaningful discussion about suicide prevention

must be held in the context of a much broader conversation

about mental illness, brain disorders, including major

depression, bi-polar disorder, and schizophrenia.

The stigma associated with serious mental illness (brain

disorders) prevents uninhibited discussion about

prevention, diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

Stigma stands in the way of millions of Americans seek-

ing out help and relief from illness. One in four Americans

are impacted by mental illness. It takes courage to stand up

and advocate for effective treatment, compassionate care,

and fundamental change throughout the mental health care

system.

As the harmful and sometimes deadly effects of stigma

disappear for this category of illnesses, more individuals

will be willing to discuss treatment, rehabilitation and

recovery.

Fortunately, there are numerous suicide education

programs like the QPR Institute (which stands for

Question, Persuade, and Refer) and Mental Health First

Aid that train the general public in responding timely and

effectively in a mental health emergency.

NAMI Southwestern Illinois provides free evidenced-

based education programs, support groups, and advocacy

presentations throughout the Metro East region. Standing

up and fighting stigma is the first step to suicide preven-

tion.

NAMI SWI asks for your help and support—you are not

alone in the fight to end stigma, join us today!

________________

Belleville Edwardsville

News Democrat Intelligencer

NAMI SWI offers a special

thanks to our partners at the

Edwardsville Intelligencer and

Belleville News Democrat,

especially Mr. Bill Tucker,

Editor, Edwardsville Intelligencer & Mr. Patrick Kuhl,

Lifestyle Editor, Belleville News Democrat. We appreciate

their tremendous support, including publishing various

meeting and class announcements.

THANKS SO MUCH!

_____________

IL Warm Line - (866) 359-7953

www.illinoismentalhealthcollaborative.com

Hope is Just a Phone Call Away

Phone support for persons with mental health and/or

substance use challenges, their families, friends, and

community members. Staffed by Recovery Support Spe-

cialists who live out recovery. Staff provides emotional

support, recovery education, self-advocacy support, and

referrals.

Phone hours are Monday thru Friday, 8am-5pm. Dial

1-866-359-7953. Then from the main menu, select option

#2, then option #5.

Sometimes what is needed most in difficult times is

someone to talk with who listens and understands.

____________

Hey Friends,

Have you taken the stigmaFree pledge? I did and I hope you do too because together we CAN make a difference!

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NAMI ILLINOIS ANNOUNCE

TWO TEACHER TRAININGS

Family-to-Family Teacher Training - Nov 13-15, 2015

NAMI IL is proud to be able to offer this Family-to-

Family Teacher Training coming this fall! This training

will be held at the NEW office and community center of

NAMI DuPage in Wheaton, Illinois. NAMI Illinois'

Family-to-Family Teacher Trainings have limited availa-

bility. You will want to register soon.

Family-to-Family Teacher Requirements:

A Family Member of a person living with mental

illness,

A member of a NAMI Illinois affiliate,

Willing to undergo 3-day training and adhere to

fidelity of program model is required,

Committed to teaching a minimum of two 12-week

Family-to-Family Courses for your affiliate,

Have the ability to report course data as required,

Willing to identify potential new teachers from

educational courses,

Willing to promote NAMI membership to course

participants .

NAMI Basics Teacher Training - January 22-24, 2016 NAMI Illinois' Basics Teacher Training has limited

availability. Registration deadline is November 30, 2015

so if you’re interested, register soon.

Basics Teacher Basics Teacher Requirements:

The course is designed to be taught using a co-leader

training model. Teacher trainings are expensive, time con-

suming and can be emotionally draining for all in-

volved. In an effort to ensure that only the best candi-

dates participate in the training, NAMI organizations use

an application process to select individuals to participate in

teacher trainings. Individuals who are interested in being

trained to teach the curriculum must meet the following

criteria:

Be the parent or other primary caregiver of an individ-

ual who began experiencing symptoms prior to the age

of 13 (it is not necessary that the child have been

formally diagnosed prior to 13). It is important that all

individuals trained in this curriculum have lived

through the experiences of having a young child with a

mental illness.

Be at a point in their life where they are familiar and

comfortable with the emotional issues families face

and can self-disclose about their own feelings of guilt,

anger, shame, ambivalence and grief regarding their

life situation.

Be willing to participate in an intensive weekend

training on how to teach the curriculum.

Be willing to make the commitment to participants in

the course, the co-leader and to the NAMI organization

to complete the 6-week course once it begins.

Must be a member of NAMI.

If you are interested in becoming a Family-to-

Family or Basics Teacher, please discuss this with your

affiliate president, executive director, or education co-

ordinator.

____________

NAMI Illinois Conference

Date: Friday, October 2 – Saturday, October 3, 2015

Location: Techny Towers Conf. & Retreat Center

2001 Waukegan Road, Techny, Illinois

This 2-day conference will bring up-to-minute

information on mental health services in Illinois, cultural,

faith, and community outreach, and types of NAMI

affiliate assessment and development tools and strategies.

NAMI IL has over 20 concurrent sessions to choose from

this year!

Here is a glimpse of our 2015 educational offerings:

Welcome to Illinois where currently the State of

the State is under construction.

Cognitive Enhancement Therapy

Managed Care in Illinois

Mental Health Courts/What’s Working & What’s

Not

Supportive Housing

NAMI Faithnet and Interfaith Endeavors

Future of CRSS & its Role in all Settings

Suicide Prevention

Telling Your Story: Working with the Media

Outreach into Latino Communities

Board Assessment and Development that’s

Guaranteed to Grow and Strengthen Your Affiliate

Team Building

Re-Affiliation in Illinois…What’s Next?

NAMI Support Group Refresher

Registration fee after September 20 is $75 per person.

Registration includes breakfast and lunch on Friday and

Saturday.

For more information and to register, call NAMI IL at

(217) 522-1403 or by email at [email protected] or

visit their website at http://www.namiillinois.org.

___________

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JESSICA GRUNEICH

The number of mental

health beds is not suffi-

cient, according to Jes-

sica Gruneich, executive

director of NAMI of

Southwestern Illinois,

the local chapter of the

National Alliance on

Mental Illness. “We’re

talking about people’s

lives on the line,”

Gruneich said. “No one

is an expert until it hits

you and your family.

You have this medical

problem, and you

believe you can get

medical treatment for it,

and you have no idea

about the lack of

community support until

it hits you.” Often the

patient is sent away, to

hospitals as far away as

Chicago or even out of

state. That can be diffi-

cult for families, sepa-

rating the patient from

their local support

system. It’s a problem

that exists across the

region, advocates say —

patients from Chicago

are just as routinely sent

down to the metro-east

when their facilities are

full. _________

JENNIFER ROTH

Jennifer Roth, executive

director of the Madison

County Mental Health

Board, said of the six

hospitals in Madison

County, some do not have

any inpatient psychiatric

beds, some have limita-

tions on their psychiatric

services and some have

no mental health facilities

at all. “Whether there

are sufficient beds in this

county — region, if you

include St. Clair County

and the surrounding

rural areas — I would

definitely say no,” Roth

said. “Lack of community

psychiatric beds is a

continuing problem even

with the growth we have

had in the past year at

Gateway.” Jails often

keep someone who is a

danger to himself or oth-

ers in protective custody,

sometimes up to 48 hours

while searching for an

inpatient space, she said.

“The jails do the best

they can, but they are not

designed or intended to

be mental health

centers,” Roth said.

________

ERIN ECHELMEYER

Gateway Regional Med-

ical Center has the larg-

est ward in the metro-

east by far with 100

beds. Of those, 18 are

designated for children,

18 for adolescents, 18

for adult females, 23 for

adult males and the

remainder for older

adults. About 40 percent

of Gateway’s mental-

health patients come

from the emergency

room, and the rest are

transferred in from

other hospitals sending

their overflow to the

metro-east, according to

Gateway spokesman

Erin Echelmeyer. In

fact, more than 20% of

Gateway’s emergency

room admissions are

mental health patients,

Echelmeyer said.

________

SULBRENA DAY

Sulbrena Day, vice presi-

dent of Touchette ancillary

services, said the commu-

nity needs assessment

completed in advance of

Touchette’s application to

the state in 2013 highlight-

ed mental disorders as one

of the most common causes

of disability in the area.

Day said Touchette is a

“disproportionate share”

hospital, which means a

large number of its

patients are uninsured or

underinsured, and thus

they receive additional

support funds. It has its

challenges, but it’s not

impossible to care for

these individuals,” Day

said. “It’s our mission,

and we hold fast to our

mission.” The new facili-

ty at Touchette is under

construction and projected

to be completed at the end

of the year, with an open-

ing date in January 2016.

St. Elizabeth’s, Touchette

and Southern Illinois

Healthcare Foundation are

working on a transitional

plan for the new facility,

Day said.

________

NOTE: To read the

entire article click :

http://www.bnd.com/

news/local/

article32671221.html

________

Hospital Beds for People

Suffering a Mental Health Condition

The metro-east soon will have fewer beds available for people suffering a mental health crisis, even as advocates

say they need more inpatient beds for mentally ill patients in Madison and St. Clair counties.

In 2013, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and Touchette Regional Hospital joined forces with Southern Illinois Healthcare

Foundation to build a new 30-bed behavioral health services center. It is intended to expand Touchette’s ability to help

patients who have a mental illness that arrive in the emergency room with a need for inpatient treatment. Currently,

Touchette has 12 beds available for mental health services, so the new facility will more than double Touchette’s

capability. But overall, it appears to forecast a decrease in the total number of beds available for mental health treat-

ment in the metro-east. At the moment, there are 35 beds at St. Elizabeth’s, 12 beds at Touchette, 100 beds at Gateway

Regional Medical Center in Granite City and 20 beds at Alton Memorial Hospital. That’s a total of 167 beds in the

metro-east.

But St. Elizabeth’s plans to close its ward when Touchette opens the new one. That’s a loss of 35 beds in St. Clair

County, which also lost 39 beds when Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital closed in East St. Louis. Once St. Elizabeth’s

closes and Touchette opens its new ward, there will be a total of 150 beds in the metro-east, or an overall loss of 17

beds.

Read below what some of our advocates have to say on this subject:

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13

A rendering of the new Behavioral Health Center under construction at Touchette Regional Hospital.

(See related article on Page 12)

NAMI SWI presented at the Hispanic Leaders Group on August 12th at Ameren offices in St Louis. Representing NAMI were members from NAMI St Louis and NAMI SWI affiliates. Seated at the table are Efrend and Carlos Garcia from NAMI SWI and Leslie Hernandez & Sharon Lyons from NAMI St Louis. The group discussed our affiliate's De Familia-a-Familia educational class and mental health among the Hispanic community.

Tobias Gross Memorial Hockey Game and Fundraiser to benefit NAMI SWI was held on Saturday, August 7 2015, at St Louis Mills in St Louis, MO. The picture is Tobias's hockey teammates. NAMI SWI Board Member Marion Endress represented our affiliate at the benefit. Special thank you to the Gross Family and Jake Benedict, event organizers.

NAMI SWI participated at the Troy Chamber of Commerce Back-to-School event on August 14, 2015. Member/volunteer Sharon Zenik & Board Member Amber Kaan represented our affiliate.

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RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

What is NAMI SWI?

NAMI Southwestern Illinois

(NAMI SWI) is an affiliate of the

National Alliance on Mental Illness.

It is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, self-help,

volunteer organization dedicated to

improving the quality of life for peo-

ple with mental illnesses and their

families.

There are more than 950 NAMI

Affiliates in communities across the

country in addition to NAMI State

Organizations.

NAMI SWI is one of the 26 affil-

iates in Illinois and serves the follow-

ing 12 Illinois counties: Bond,

Calhoun, Clinton, Green, Jersey,

Macoupin, Madison, Monroe,

Montgomery, Randolph, St. Clair,

and Washington.

We provide free education and

support programs for persons with

mental illnesses and their families.

We provide a voice for individuals

affected by mental illnesses by

advocating for them with public and

private policy makers for better legis-

lation and more effective treatment

options. NAMI SWI is here to

help. Please call the office at (618)

798-9788 or send an e-mail to

[email protected] or attend one of

the support group meetings listed on

page 4.

What Are the Benefits

of NAMI SWI Membership?

All NAMI members receive the

benefits of membership at all three

levels of the organization, including:

NAMI Affiliate, NAMI State

Organization, and the NAMI

National organization;

Eligibility to vote in all NAMI

elections;

A subscription to The Advocate,

NAMI's flagship magazine, as

well as access to optional sub-

scriptions to specialty newsletters

and information at the national,

state and local levels;

A subscription to NAMI SWI

Newsletter;

Member discounts on brochures,

videos, promotional items and

registration at NAMI's Annual

Convention and many state and

local conferences;

Access to exclusive members-

only material on www.nami.org;

Access to NAMI SWI library;

And maybe the best of all,

you’ll meet a great group of folks

who share your same concerns.

Not a NAMI SWI member yet?

Call the NAMI SWI Office at (618)

798-9788 to have a registration form

mailed to you or register today by

clicking:

http://namiswi.org/

namiswiMembershipAPP.pdf.

____________

NAMI Southwestern IL Gateway Regional Medical Center 2100 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor Granite City, IL 62040

TO: