Singers lend their voices to advocate for mentally ill

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Those who've been there know the difficulties of mental illness, the potential for isolation, the worries that others won't understand.

NAMI understands.

The DuPage County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness uses positive peer examples, classes and support groups to help individuals work toward recovery. Additionally, it offers programs for family members, resources for the community and solid information to help remove the stigma often tied to mental illness.

In a few weeks, NAMI of DuPage will host Hope for the Holidays, a concert featuring Suzy Bogguss and her niece Rebecca Davis of Carol Stream, a Naperville North High School graduate, who is a soprano currently performing with the San Jose Opera. The event aims to raise money for NAMI's programs as well as raising community awareness about the organization and public understanding about mental illness.

Mary Lou Lowry, executive director of NAMI of DuPage, talks about the organization's goals and programs.

Q. What is your mission?

A. To provide support, advocacy and education to improve the quality of life for individuals with mental illness and their families.

Q. How do you work toward accomplishing that goal?

A. We provide the lived experience of mental illness. Individuals with mental illness tell their stories of hope and recovery as well as lead groups. Research has shown that learning about people with a mental illness from the individuals themselves reduces stigma. Research has also shown that if the families stay involved, the person with the illness has a much better outcome. We offer classes and support for the families as well as the person with the illness. We have the following services:

Resources:

• Lending library containing videos, magazines, books and brochures

• Web sites: namidupage.org and nami.org

• Research information: details about clinical studies

For individuals with a mental illness:

• NAMI Connection drop-in peer recovery group, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital North Pavilion

• Peer-to-Peer nine-week educational course, call to register

• Drop-In Centers in Naperville, Westmont, Villa Park and Wheaton (Transitional Service Center)

For families:

• Drop-in Family Member Support Groups: 7-8:30 p.m. first and third Tuesdays at Good Samaritan Hospital North Pavilion; 7-8:30 p.m. second and fourth Tuesdays at NAMI office; parents with children under 22 with a mental Illness, 7-8:30 p.m. second and fourth Mondays at NAMI office

• NAMI Basics six-week educational course for parents with children under 17, call to register

• Family-to-Family 12-week educational course for family members, call to register

• Child-to-Child eight-week class for ages 8 to 14 and their parent(s), call to register

Advocacy:

• Speakers Bureau: educational presentations for any type of group

• Guest Speaker Series: third Tuesdays at College of DuPage, check namidupage.org for details

• Advocate at local, state and national levels, receive legislation updates by e-mail

• MICAP - Adult Mental Illness Court Alternative Program

• Letter-writing campaign against stigma (nami.org, Stigma Busters)

We also have been instrumental in bringing the Fairweather Lodge Model to Illinois. It is a housing model that empowers people with mental illness and moves them along in their recovery. The Fairweather Lodge has moved people from costly nursing home care to affordable housing in the community with great success.

Q. Who do you serve?

A. Individuals with mental illness and their families in DuPage County, but we also serve the entire population as we raise awareness and reduce stigma.

Q. When and why did the organization start? How has it grown?

A. The organization was started by family members. Families were looking for services and support for their relative and found none. Since its beginning in 1985 with a few families, NAMI of DuPage has grown to more than 600 families.

Q. What kind of successes have you had?

A. Families who go through our family program, a 12-week educational class called Family-to-Family, say it is life changing. We have been bringing hope to people who are on the inpatient units at hospitals.

One person would not engage in treatment until he/she heard the story of another person with mental illness and how treatment changed their life.

Another person in the hospital heard the stories and decided that if the speaker could go through what he/she had been through then she could work harder on her recovery. She started volunteering for NAMI and has done well in her recovery.

Q. What challenges does NAMI of DuPage currently face?

A. The state of Illinois has cut money to local community mental health centers. In the past several years there have been no cost-of-living raises, then this year there have been severe cuts. It means 150,000 people now receiving services will not receive services by the end of the year. Along with these decreases, the demand for our classes, groups and programs is increasing, which increases our costs. We hope in these hard times we can keep up with the demand.

Q. What do you wish the community at large knew?

A. We wish all families facing mental illness knew about our resources. Families feel so alone facing this illness. They do not have to face it alone because there are many others who have been through what they are going through and are not afraid to talk about it.

Q. How can readers get involved?

A. We need volunteers and donations. In fact we need all of DuPage County to be aware that mental illness touches one in four families.

For volunteer opportunities, call our office at (630) 752-0066 or check our Web site at namidupage.org, where you can donate.

Vital statistics

Annual budget: $500,000

Sources of funding: Individual donors and foundations

Amount donated to other organizations: $1,500 to NARSAD for mental health research; collaboration with New Beginnings Community Service for housing; collaboration with the DuPage County Health Department for housing, consumer help and activities

Full-time employees: Five

Volunteers: 100

Wish list: 100 Christmas presents for individuals with mental illness, 50 male and 50 female

To donate: namidupage.org or NAMI of DuPage, 2100 Manchester Road, Building B Suite 925, Wheaton, 60187

To volunteer: (630) 752-0066 or execdir.nami@gmail.com

Info: (630) 752-0066 or namidupage.org

<p class="factboxheadblack">Hope for the Holidays</p> <p class="News"><b>What:</b> A concert featuring Grammy Award-winning singer Suzy Bogguss and her niece Rebecca Davis, an opera singer with the San Jose Opera </p> <p class="News"><b>Why:</b> To support NAMI of DuPage programs, especially for housing and the consumer help program, which is a safety net for consumers who have been struggling with their symptoms</p> <p class="News"><b>When:</b> 6 p.m. Dec. 7 </p> <p class="News"><b>Where:</b> North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville</p> <p class="News"><b>Tickets:</b> $50 for regular admission; $100 for VIP tickets that include a reception with the performers</p> <p class="News"><b>Info:</b> (630) 752-0066 or <a href="http://www.namidupage.org" target="new">namidupage.org</a></p>