NAMI Chicago

About

Our mission is to provide hope and improve the quality of life for those in the greater Chicago area whose lives are affected by serious mental illness.

Story

Our Goals:
* To eliminate the stigma and discrimination associated with serious mental illness.
* To serve as a resource for information and referral, support and education for persons with serious mental illness and their families and friends.
* To assist in the education of the public and professionals about serious mental illness, with particular attention to the perspective of the individuals living with mental illness and their families.
* To advocate on behalf of the mentally ill and their families.
* To monitor and seek improvement of existing treatment, residential and support services and to promote the establishment of additional and innovative programs and approaches.
* To promote the inclusion of families in planning and decision-making in the mental health service delivery system, and to urge cooperation between families and professionals in the treatment of the seriously mentally ill persons.
* To support and promote programs that maximize the potential and independence of each person with serious mental illness.
* To stimulate research into causes and treatments for serious mental illnesses and research on psychosocial rehabilitation methods.

Mission

NAMI Chicago’s mission is to provide hope and improve the quality of life for those in the greater Chicago area whose lives are affected by serious mental illness by providing information & referrals, education, support, advocacy, and active community outreach.

Products

NAMI Chicago’s programs include:
* an information and referral Helpline which receives more that 7,000 calls annually for assistance in dealing with serious mental illness;
* Informational Publications on all aspects of mental illnesses, including a Resource Card which is a wallet-sized guide to key services in Chicago and Baby Blues brochures which are distributed to providers throughout the Chicago area;
* family and individual Support Group Meetings in our office as well as at many sites throughout greater Chicago;
* volunteer opportunities for mental health consumers who are looking to return to employment;
* a Consumer Club which meets monthly for fun activities such as movie days, coffee houses, and parties
* Educational Meetings and Programs for members and the public including a Speaker’s Bureau, the 12 week Family to Family Education Course, and an 8 week educational course designed by consumers for consumers entitled Pathways to Recovery