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October/November/December 2015 Website: namilivingstonmclean.org/ Phone: 309-287-9913
ANNUAL NAMI WALK/5K RUN
We had a record number register and join us at White Oak Park, North
Pavilion, Bloomington, IL on Saturday, September 26, 2015.
“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can
and no one may. We ourselves must walk the
path.” – Buddha
MCLEAN COUNTY SUPPORT GROUPS:
2ND AND 4TH SATURDAY OF MONTH
Family Support Group meets from 1-2 pm in the Cenacle Room of Epiphany
Catholic Church, 1006 East College Avenue, Normal.
Connection Recovery Support Group meets from 1-2 pm in the Library of
Epiphany Catholic Church, 1006 East College Avenue, Normal.
LIVINGSTON COUNTY SUPPORT GROUP:
1ST THURSDAY EVENING OF MONTH
First United Methodist Church
219 N Chicago Street, Pontiac
7 p.m.
Contact: John or Bonnie 815-842-1514 or Laura at 815-844-7392
FAMILY TO FAMILY EDUCATION CLASS
To be added to the waitlist, please send an email to
[email protected] with your name, address, and phone
number so that we may contact you when the next class is scheduled.
A RECENT SUCCESS
We would like to thank those listed below
for their extraordinary contribution to
this year’s NAMI Walk/5k Run:
Alliance Grain Company
St Joseph Medical Center
Road ID
Micetic Insurance Services
Robert and Barb Heneghen
Gail Krachtus
Mary McLaughlin
Mary Anne Kirchner
Nollie and DeLisa Rodney
Glenn and Robin Rinker
Roosevelt and Trenn Moore
Daniel and Debra Brownstone
Dean and Sue Glesing
Larry and Eleanor Shapiro
David Kaeb
Martha Kerber
Kristin Hall
Networks of Networks (John Hall)
We are all in this together!
DEWITT COUNTY SUPPORT GROUP:
4TH THURSDAY OF MONTH
6:00 - 7:30 pm
Human Resource Center (HRC)
1150 Illinois 54, Clinton, IL 61727
Contact Tonya at: [email protected]
BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL DEPRESSION AND BI-POLAR SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS:
1ST & 3RD TUESDAY OF MONTH
First Methodist Church
211 School Street (back door) in Normal, Illinois.
Park in lot north of church. Use the back door on the west side. Front door is locked.
For info call 309-829-3899.
UPCOMING CLASSES:
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID COURSE FOR YOUTH
Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff,
peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-
18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is
primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental
health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to
help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance
use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.
Snacks and Lunch are provided.
Hospital / Medical Center: Advocate BroMenn Medical Center
Address:
Advocate BroMenn Medical Center
1304 Franklin Ave
Normal, IL 61761
Cost: $10.00
To Register online, click here: https://healthadvisor.advocatehealth.com/Classes
Letter From the President… Thanks to a dedicated team of members the NAMI WALK/5KRUN was a huge success. Our 2015
Planning Team was Bob Heneghan, Mary Anne Kirchner, Janet Wick, Renee Martin, Gail Krachtus, and Courtney
Keough. They worked tirelessly to bring awareness of NAMI's work to the community by conducting a
remarkable marketing campaign that garnered live TV & radio interviews, as well as internet, newspaper, and
magazine notices.
St. Joseph's Medical Center donated space on their digital sign. A company called Road ID donated 100
participant numbers as well as gift bags and flyers. Avanti's donated the ever popular gondolas again. And we
had some healthful scrumptious snack foods from Take a Bite Cafe, an up and coming local restaurant that
specializes in vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free foods that the whole family can savor.
We had so much support this year! Even the weather co-operated. The day was gorgeous with wispy
white clouds and a picture perfect blue sky that begged to be relished as the first fall week end gave us the
parting warmth of summer.
Thank you, Shawn High, for everything you did to bring it all together. Shawn is the heart and soul of
our affiliate. The hours, days, weeks, and months of preparatory work carried us through. We had a book sale
this year courtesy of our very own NAMI member, Katherine Kreher, with her skillfully penned work, "A House
Divided: A Story of Survival." Many thanks, Katherine, for donating a portion of proceeds from your book sale
to NAMI.
Kudos also go to our "first time ever" teams that took part: Psychology Specialists and Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority (AKA), our national NAMI partners. AKA had the biggest group with 9 exuberant sorors.
The entertainment was extraordinary with Dana Heneghan's inspirational original compositions being
the lead act ahead of Pete Hermes' band, Easily Distracted. Their uplifting sound moves from smooth, easy
listening to toe tapping, get up and dance renditions of familiar tunes, and original songs by Joe Hermes, the
singer and guitarist in the band. They added a sax man this year, Pete's son Dan Hermes, which brought an
added richness to their melodies imparting a sophistication that is a joy to experience here in Central Illinois.
We are profoundly indebted to you, Pete, for your continued support of NAMI Livingston McLean. Your
generosity allows us to continue the work of assisting families living in the mental health maze.
And Dana Heneghan's performance was a special treat. She's a beautiful new mom, an exceptional
vocalist and guitarist. Her heartwarming music flows from the depth of her personal experience. She brings an
unforgettable voice to the mental health domain.
Well, now that the WALK/5K RUN is over we have a few new initiatives coming up. There is a book
campaign for Katherine's book as well as another book entitled, "You are not the brightest of my four sons: and
other depressing things that have been said to me," by John Shuchart. According to Tina Grzeskiewicz,
President of NAMI Kansas, "John's story allows you to appreciate the experiences of mental illness, makes you
think about its stigma, and even how you feel about yourself. And you'll laugh a lot!" Our affiliate will get 30%
of the sale price for each book sold through this newsletter, and our website. We are also participating in a
coupon book sale with Bergner's. Your $5 donation gives you over $500 worth of Bergner's exclusive coupon
savings. The $5 goes to NAMI Livingston McLean. Please help in this win/win fundraising effort. The coupons
are also good at Carson's stores as well Bergner's & Carson's on-line shopping.
Our next newsletter will be in January. Sending you cordial greetings for the holiday season and looking
forward to the coming year. The best is yet to come!
Appreciating your strength and encouragement,
Elizabeth
Sisters in Service - AKA & NAMI Alliance: Sharon Francis, DeLisa Rodney, Edna Shelby-Lewis, Kentrica Coleman, Jennifer Palmer Franklin, Melanie Lastrapes, Patricia Sharp, Ayanna Vinson, and Kenisha Luke
NAMI President, Elizabeth Hall & AKA Program Chairman, Sharon Francis NAMI Member, Debra Brownstone with NAMI President, Elizabeth Hall
The band, Easily Distracted: Dan Hermes, Joe Hermes, Pete Hermes Musician, Songwriter: Dana Heneghan
MUSIC RECOMMENDATIONS: Rachel Platten, "Fight Song" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo1VInw-SKc
Demi Lovato, "Nightingale" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkqsqWcdih4
Marie Miller, "You're Not Alone" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8EBt7pFAFw
Selena Gomez and The Scene "Who Says" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzE1mX4Px0I
Lady Antebellum "One Day You Will" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1DJ_iQhVFw
R.E.M. "Everybody Hurts" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijZRCIrTgQc
Rob Thomas "Someday" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6pODq8_FxE
Avril Lavigne "Keep Holding On" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyzBOH24oZA
Wilson Phillips "Hold On" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIbXvaE39wM
Elizabeth Gillies " You Don't Know Me" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC9C5OR9kTI
Christina Aguileria "Beautiful" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAfyFTzZDMM
Sara Bareilles "Brave" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUQsqBqxoR4
Thank you to everyone who came out to show their support of NAMI Livingston/McLean Counties during Mental Health Awareness Night on Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at The Corn Crib, Normal.
We proudly introduce Tosha Maaks. Our newsletter is a forum for her riveting story. Welcome to our NAMI family, Tosha!
STIGMA IN SMALL TOWN USA I always wondered how I would tell my story if ever given the chance. Having bipolar 1, ADHD, and
general anxiety I have so much to share. It was cold out. That’s all I really remember. I had on a stocking cap and I was wearing a sweatshirt. This was my common attire for my then-position as a bus monitor for the school district I live in. The depression was back and it was hitting hard core. I had lost faith in my current psychiatrist and getting in to see a new one proved to be a challenge. I had an appointment, but it was a month away. I was going to see a doctor who was newly out of school, young, and hopefully wouldn’t, as I called it, “cookie cut” me when it came to medications. I had just found the webcam feature on my new mac, hit record, and “Ramblings of a Bipolar Mom” started to flow from my mouth. After I was done speaking I thought, I am going to use this for good. Maybe someone else needs to hear it. I posted it on Facebook without a second thought. I did a video about every other day, talking about having bipolar illness and how it made me feel and some of the things that it did to me. I got some positive feedback from friends; supportive feedback. “Good for you Tosh, maybe this can help someone else,” one friend said. I felt good about the video blogs. I was very depressed, but I was getting into the doctor and hoped I would be OK soon. I remember getting one message that didn’t make any sense to me until later. It said, “I don’t care what people are saying, I have depression and I am behind you 100%.” It was from a neighbor. I live in a very small town, small enough that it is actually called a village. I just took that comment as a compliment, and it didn’t dawn on me to pay attention to the part that said “what people are saying”. I would, however, find out very soon. I was at the bus barn in between runs when my boss asked me to follow him into the offices of the administration building. My chest tightened and my heart sped up as I walked through the hallway leading to the HR manager's office. On the screen of his computer was my face, my blog pulled up as if I was doing something deceitful on the job. The whole school district was in an uproar over my videos. Some of my children’s friends were on my Facebook page and some of their parents were as well. News of my illness traveled quickly among administrative staff, principals at the schools, and all the way up to the superintendent of the district. They were flooded with calls demanding my immediate dismissal. I sat there blank faced. I explained I was trying to help others who have bipolar, asking why there was a problem? They told me I yelled at the students. I said I have never yelled at the students, I talked loudly. There were 70 students on the bus. If I didn’t speak loudly, how would they hear the instructions? I was dumbfounded. I was advised strongly to take the videos down immediately and not do anymore. I was hurt, and ashamed, and worse than that, I worried about my boys and how would this affect them at school. Would the other kids make fun of them for having a crazy mom. Without thinking I took the videos down and sank even deeper into depression. The shaming, however, had just begun. Day after day I was told of phone call after phone call to the school and the administrative offices. The parents were relentless. The principal, with whom I preciously had a good relationship since my sons were in preschool (now my oldest was in high school) asked me rudely, “Is it worth it for this stupid job?” when I tried to apologize to him for all the phone calls he was having to deal with. I told him yes it was since the school board paid my insurance. I was crushed that he hadn’t assured the parents I was fine to be around their children, that he knew me personally and knew I would never harm them.
Then the unimaginable happened on the first warm day of spring during an afternoon bus route. Seating on our bus is by grades with kindergartners sitting in the front progressing towards the back with first and second graders next, through fifth graders at the back of the bus. I always sat with the fifth graders because they tended to be the noisiest and needed the most supervision.
We stopped in town where the majority of the children and I got off the bus. Seventeen kids got off starting with the youngest. I was the last one off the bus after the fifth graders exited. The snow had melted, the air was fresh and my children decided to walk the two blocks home instead of riding in the car home with me. I remembered that my oldest son had lost his key to our van in the snow a few weeks earlier so I started looking for it along the side of my car. I noticed another van parked across from mine but didn’t see who was in it, just figuring it was another parent picking up their child at the bus stop. My twins called to me, asking what I was looking for. I called back, “The van key that Colton lost a few weeks ago”. After a few more moments I gave up the search got in my car and drove home. The next day my boss asked me to come to his office. He had received a call from a man who said I had pushed his son, a kindergartner, off the bus and then went up to his son and wife sitting inside their van and started growling at them, trying to get into their van, all of which was a complete fabrication. I asked my boss, “Why do they want me gone so bad? I have done this job for four years without a problem. I don’t understand.” I had never dealt with the stigma of bipolar before that moment. Why would someone go out of their way to fabricate a complete lie to try and get me fired from a job that I had done for years for with no complaints from anyone. I couldn’t understand how people, knowing I was already depressed, would try to take something from me that could send me further into depression. I still don’t talk to many people in the town we live in. Fewer than 700 people live there, and most know of my diagnosis. They choose to think I am different because of that. I know that I’ve read somewhere that 1 in 5 people have mental illness. Is it possible the lady who made up that story about me growling at her is dealing with some undiagnosed illness of her own? Then again, maybe she is just that mean-spirited. Either way, I wouldn’t change what happened. It set the course for other things that happened in my life, and the changes that came next were bigger than anything I could have imagined. Although not all of them were good, they all did prove that I have Amazing Strength.
Tosha Maaks
Benefits to you: 1. You may see yourself and your family members in the story and will relate the events to your lives. 2. You can reflect on the choices you have made in your life; I’ve shared my successes and failures. 3. You may be inspired to write your own life story; writing is all about passion and perseverance.
How to order:
You can order your copy directly from the NAMI McLean/Livingston website.
The cost of the book is $16.
We encourage you to share your comments/questions with the author at [email protected]. We thank you for your support!
NAMI Anonymous
Support Options:
You Are Not Alone: an online story-sharing hub. Visit notalone.nami.org to follow.
OK2Talk: an online story-sharing hub for young people to vent, ask for help and share success stories on the topic of
mental health. Visit www.OK2Talk.org to follow.
NAMI AIR: a new free smartphone support app through which both individuals living with mental illness and their
family members or loved ones can share thoughts and feelings while connecting with and supporting their peers. Visit
www.nami.org/Find-Support/Air-App for more information or go to the App store to download.
Discussion Groups: NAMI.org contains discussion groups on various topics where people can ask questions, share
thoughts and connect with others. Visit www.nami.org/Find-Support/Discussion-Groups to get involved.
Buy your copy Today!
From the author: Writing your memoir can be daunting, but it can also be cathartic. I wrote A House Divided; A Story of Survival to help my four children understand (and remember) the events in our lives that led me to divorce their father. He was a high school math teacher, a respected tennis icon in the community, and the man I fell in love with during my freshman year in college. Unfortunately, he suffered from depression and, because of his stoic European background, he was unable to reach out for help. While his students praised his teaching and coaching abilities, my children and I were victims of his random mood swings that became more frequent as the years passed. His increasing bouts of depression and anger forced me to choose between him and the children. I chose my children. I wrote this book 3 times over a span of 16 years: first, as a diary with dates dictating the sequence of events; second, as an autobiography that included more humanistic details; and, third, as a novel based on events as I lived them. I wanted to create a “page-turner.” Feedback from my readers indicates I achieved this goal. Now you can be the judge.
BOOK RECOMMENDATION:
Author John Shuchart, a successful entrepreneur and educator who is managing his
own depression, has penned a new book, “You are not the brightest of my four sons”…
and other depressing things that have been said to me. You’ll laugh along with John at
the incredible, traumatic events of his life, and you’ll learn how John has reframed
many of those events to eliminate the negative emotions tied to them.
For more information about the book, click on link: notthebrightest.com
Author Video
To Buy The Book
MOVIE RECOMMENDATION:
Psycho tropic medications are dispensed to prisoners in the McLean County Jail, Feb. 15, 2014, in Bloomington. McLean County Sheriff Mike Emery began a community debate when he asked if the jail was the best place to treat those with mental illness."Shortchanged: Unjailing the mentally ill" is a film by Edith Brady-Lunny and David Proeber. The documentary looks at the efforts of one community to find more humane ways to treat its population of those with mental illness.
Produced by Pantagraph photo editor David Proeber and reporter Edith Brady-Lunny, Shortchanged was
borne of a two-year debate following McLean County Sheriff Mike Emery's statement that jail might not be the
best place to rehabilitate inmates with mental illnesses. The film interviews those who live with the challenges
of severe mental illness, and also talks to jail staff who currently provide treatment to mentally ill inmates. The
conversation surrounding this issue is unquestionably a sensitive one, but the fact that Shortchanged was
made is in itself encouraging: the problem has been identified, and people are talking.
To view the film in its entirety, please click on this link: http://www.pantagraph.com/shortchanged
EMERGENCY NUMBERS:
Local police/ambulance: 911
PATH Crisis Center: 211
Center for Human Services Crisis Team: 309-827-5351
Board of directors:
NAMI LIVINGSTON/MCLEAN COUNTIES
PO Box 5323
Bloomington, IL 61702-5323
[Recipient Name]
[Street Address]
[City, ST ZIP Code]
NAMI Livingston/McLean Counties
PO Box 5323
Bloomington, IL 61702-5323
309-287-9913
namilivingstonmclean.org
on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/NAMILvngstnMcLn
on Twitter at:
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