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WELCOME TO NAMI-BILLINGS

Billings' Voice on Mental Illness

                                                                                                                                      Photo courtesy of Phil Bell

There is no Education Meeting in November and December.  Please check back in early January 2009 for information about the January Education Meeting. 

BE AN INFORMED VOTER!  Learn the positions of the candidates and parties before you vote!

NAMI has released the responses of presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama to a detailed questionnaire about mental health care.   Click here to read their responses.

As a non-profit organization, NAMI does not endorse political candidates, but mental illness does not discriminate between Democrats and Republicans!

SUPPORT GROUP for PARENTS of children with mental illness.

Meets the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month

7:00pm - 8:30pm

Groups meet in the NAMI office at 1645 Avenue D, Suite G

Questions?  Call us at 256-2001.  To view a list of all our support groups, please click here.

Look What's New . . .

YOUTH SUPPORT GROUPS!

We are pleased to announce that NAMI-Billings will provide weekly support groups for youth with mental illnesses in partnership with Tumbleweed beginning in October.  We will serve two age groups: 12-14 and 15-17.  The groups will be closed; meaning they will last for eight weeks, and new members will not enter until the start of a new series.  Parents of youth who may be appropriate for these groups should call Libby at NAMI (256-2001) for more information and to start the intake process.

Beginning on October 6 from 6:00-8:00 PM

This nine-week Peer to Peer course is for individuals with serious mental illnesses.   Registrations will be accepted starting on September 15.  You can read more about Peer-to-Peer on our Education page.  To register or for more information please call the NAMI office at 256-2001.

Wednesday ~ September 17th from 6:30-8:30 PM

This twelve-week Family to Family course is for families of ADULTS with mental illnesses.

For more information please visit our Education page.  You can register by calling the NAMI office at 256-2001.

Sunday's from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM

Thursday's from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM

NAMI Connection is a support group for adults with mental illness.  These confidential support groups meet weekly for 90 minutes and are offered at no charge.

The Billings NAMI affiliate has recently had several support group leaders trained in the NAMI-Connection model.

Groups meet in the NAMI-Billings office.  Read more about NAMI-Connection on our  Education page or call the office at 256-2001. 

To view a list of all our support groups, please click here.

Our Executive Director, Libby Artley, was featured as a guest writer in the Billings Gazette on April 27, 2008.  Click here to read Guest Opinion: Sort truth from stereotypes of mental illness.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We THANK THEM for every service moment!

AND we still have unmet needs:

Answering the phones

Coordinating groups

Please call Libby at 256-2001 if you'd like to help.

 What is NAMI?

NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the largest grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families.  Founded in 1979, NAMI has become the nation's voice on mental illness, a nationwide organization with affiliates in every state and in more than 1,100 communities.  The Billings affiliate was started in 1995 and has served countless local families and individuals suffering with mental illness.

What does NAMI-Billings do?

NAMI-Billings provides programs at no charge for people with mental illnesses and for the people who love them.  Programs provided include:

• Family to Family: a 12 week class for family members

• Peer to Peer: a 9 week course for individuals with serious mental illness

• Provider Education Program:  a course for treatment professionals

• In Our Own Voice:  Speakers who have mental illnesses that have been trained to share their stories effectively

• Visions For Tomorrow:  an 8 week education course for family members of children with a mental illness.  Children is defined as up to 21 and still living in the home.

• Weekly Support Groups

• Monthly Community Education presentations

• One-to-One support and friendship for families and individuals affected by mental illness

• Efforts to decrease the stigma of mental illness

• Advocacy to create effective treatment alternatives

What is Mental Illness?

Mental illnesses are biologically based brain disorders than can severely disturb a person's ability to think, feel, and interact with others. The latest scientific research shows that mental illnesses are physical disorders of the brain. Many treatments, especially medications, are available to relieve the signs and symptoms of these illnesses.

* Schizophrenia is a thought disorder with symptoms such as hearing and seeing things that aren't really there. It affects about 1 in 100 people.

* Major Depression will strike about 8% of people in their lifetime. It may show up as extreme sadness and a loss of interest in usual activities.

* Bipolar disorder (also called manic-depressive disorder) affects 1 to 2% of people, often causing severe mood swings from depression to abnormally elevated mood.

* Obsessive-compulsive disorder, an anxiety disorder, affects about 2.5% of people. People with OCD show symptoms such as disturbing repetitive thoughts or behaviors.

* Other anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. These illnesses involve feelings of extreme nervousness or embarrassment and sometimes, panic attacks.

* Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) occurs in 3 to 5% of school-age children and causes significant problems with functioning in school or at work.

All of these illnesses are considered to be serious mental illnesses. If you suspect that you or a loved one may have one of these illnesses, please see a physician for an evaluation as soon as possible.

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