By Pat Doyle.

How can we combat stigma? According to Dr. Patrick Corrigan an internationally known researcher on stigma and author of numerous articles in psychiatric rehabilitation journals, the number one way to reduce stigma is by sharing our stories.

So we need YOU to help us fight stigma through your story of hope and recovery!

Whether you are a family member or an individual with an illness, we offer training for speakers with the Recovery Connections hospital program. Once a week a presentation on the psychiatric unit often called “NAMI Night,” patients and their family members hear stories of recovery from both the individual and family members. This connects individuals directly with the services that NAMI DuPage has to offer. We are currently speaking at Good Samaritan Hospital, Linden Oaks Hospital and are soon expanding to Glen Oaks Hospital. A commitment of speaking once a month at the hospital is required for training.

Due to the sensitive nature of the hospital setting, there is a stringent process for acceptance as a hospital speaker. This includes an application, interview, observation of a hospital presentation, and a background check.

If your passion is education in the schools, we offer two school programs. The first is Parents and Teachers as Allies, a 2 hour teacher in-service. The second, “Ending the Silence”, is an interactive power point presentation which includes a consumer’s recovery story, and is offered to freshman high school students during their health classes. We are looking for parents of children and adolescents who had signs of mental illness while in school and individuals in recovery who can talk about their school experiences during their illness. To speak for one of our school programs, daytime availability is crucial.

Our next training is Saturday, May 22nd. If you are interested in presenting either at the local hospitals or schools, please call Mary Dalton at 630-752-0066, ext. 218 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Space is limited.