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Health & Fitness

We are the Volunteers of NAMI BA

We are the Volunteers of NAMI BA and we need you by Joseph M. Jason, President NAMI BA

 

Well, it’s hard to believe, but the summer is almost over.  Our volunteers at NAMI BA are busy all year around since mental illness strikes 1 in 4 of the population.  It affects all races, religions and creeds. Our Family to Family classes according to Vice-President Maryrose Peters, are filling up quite fast.  They are both closing in on the maximum amount that we can have. Sign up as fast as you can. We also have various wonderful support groups. 

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I encourage everybody to volunteer and/or contribute to NAMI Barrington.  Join our wonderful board members, our teachers, our support group facilitators, our committee members and more.  There is strength in numbers.   I envision a day, when we will reduce the stigma of mental illness and everybody will listen to our message.  One day all people will understand organic brain disorders.    One day we will get the funding that we desperately need.  One day we will have viable alternatives to incarceration. On day our mentally ill family members will have adequate housing.  Things can change in our country.   Slavery used to be an institution and now Barack Obama is President.  Gays had many parades and much advocacy and now have the right to get married through their advocacy.   We need to follow these examples.   One easy way to volunteer and get started is to participate in the NAMI WALK.  If we keep getting great numbers of participants, we can get more media coverage. 

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Are you not happy with the Village of Palatine decision to deny housing for the mentally ill?  Join the housing task force and make a difference.

 

Are you unhappy that the criminal justice system continues to keep our loved ones in jail and prisons because of their mental illness?  Then join our Criminal Justice Advocacy for the Mentally Ill.

 

On the national NAMI web site, there is a place where you can tell your story.  You can write a letter to the Daily Herald.  They print many of our letters.  Talk to your representatives. 

 

Come to our NAMI Illinois convention this year.  There are many great topics.  Pete Earley is the keynote speaker.  He is the author of “Crazy: A Father’s Search through America’s Mental Health Madness.”

 

Sometimes, the best thing that you can do is just listen to a person’s story and support them.

 

Please join us and make a difference.  We are the Volunteers of NAMI BA. 

 

Pick up the cry
Hey now it's time for you and me
Got a revolution got to revolution
Come on now we're marching to the sea
got a revolution got to revolution
Who will provide help to  you
We will and who are we
We are volunteers of NAMI BA

 

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