As another year passes and 2011 draws to a close it is an opportunity to reflect on all we have accomplished this year and to take a look at how we have impacted, touched and hopefully improved the lives of thousands of men, women and children who have been impacted in one way or another by mental illness. Like many of you, our staff and incredibly hard-working volunteers at NAMI DuPage have days where the gloom of ever more impending cuts to already-skimpy services seems overwhelming.

We see high unemployment all over the nation and this especially impacts our most vulnerable citizens. We know that many men and women who should be in hospital units are locked up in jail. Homelessness at a level not seen since the great depression has touched many lives; people who previously would never have thought of themselves at risk of homelessness find they are now living with relatives, in their cars, in shelters or on the streets.

Then we remember the positive things that have emerged from this recession. Where government funding has fallen short community organizations have stepped up and got involved. The wonderful support from many of our members and supporters, who have given, and then given again because they recognize the importance of what we are doing at NAMI DuPage. The energy and willingness of our volunteers, to say yes, over and over again.

Since the collapse of the economy NAMI DuPage has risen to the challenges facing many of our members and increased our support groups, increased our resource line hours and added to community awareness presentations. DuPage County knows that there is someone to turn to in time of need and that this is not a journey which needs to be travelled alone. During 2011 we have provided over 144 presentations to our local community hospitals, over 85 presentations to police, medical students, college students, nursing students, faith based organizations, libraries and professional service providers.

Over the year we have reached out and made a difference: To the families who attend our family support groups. To the parents of a twelve-year- old newly-diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder who attended our year round parent support group, and found that they were not alone. To the families, that want to learn more about mental illnesses and how to better communicate with their loved one, and attended one of our five twelve-week family to family classes. Over and over we hear them tell us that they arrived feeling hopeless and left feeling hopeful, saying that they now have the tools to better understand their family member.

We continue to educate parents, teachers and students about the signs and symptoms of mental illnesses so that they can receive the help and resources they need to prevent delays in treatment. Through our school program Parents and Teachers as Allies and Ending the Silence we spoke directly to over twelve thousand high school freshman students. As a direct result of these presentations parents of some of those students learned about NAMI DuPage then attended our six-week Basics classes, a program specifically aimed to help educate parents and caregivers of children under the age of eighteen. We made a difference.

For our members who are living with mental illnesses we increased our support groups. We had full attendance at our WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) classes. Our drop-in-centers are regularly seeing between 50 and 70 attendees each week. Our Consumer Aid Program, where we give financial assistance to men and women who are struggling to pay for rent, mortgages and medication has been inundated with requests. We have been able to help many stay in their homes and on their medication, so the they can continue on their positive path to recovery.

In 2012 we plan to do even more. We hope to begin the first NAMI DuPage Sibling support group. For many families who have a mentally ill child their energy and resources tend to be used on the family member who is ill. Siblings sometimes carry huge guilt and resentment for the situation they find themselves in through no fault of their own. For them to have a forum to know that they are not alone and that what they think matters is very important. Watch out for more information regarding this.

We have also expanded our resource room. Our resource room is open to the public during office hours. Along with books, videos and useful informational pamphlets we will have four computers to be used for online research, résumé writing and job searches. Our resource specialists will be on hand to help you find what you are looking for. If you are reading this and know of a family or an individual who is struggling please pass this newsletter along to them.

Finally from all of us at NAMI DuPage;

We wish you a very Happy, Healthy and Safe Holiday Season, We look forward to seeing you in 2012.

Thank you,

Angela Adkins - Executive Dir.