Hi ,

You can feel fall coming – cooler mornings, earlier sunsets, and a season full of ways to connect and support mental health together.

Family-to-Family registration is open for our Fall session! This free 8-week course helps family members and friends of people with mental health conditions build skills, find community, and feel less alone.

And don't forget about the Fall NAMIWalk – every step helps fund the free programs, support groups, and education we offer right here at home. Plus, we've got a full slate of programs, groups, and community events on the calendar this season.

Keep reading for all the details, plus a few mental health tips to help you ease into the season ahead.

Family-to-Family: Fall Session Registration Now Open

Dates: Tuesday September 22, 2026 - Tuesday November 17, 2026

Time: 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Location: The Sisters of Holy Family of Nazareth

310 North River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016

Do You Have a Loved One Living with Mental Illness?

The NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program is a FREE, 8-week course for families and close friends of adults living with mental health conditions. This course is taught by trained family members who truly understand what it is like to navigate these challenges. Join the thousands of families who have gained vital information, deep understanding, and an empowering community of support.

What You Will Gain From This Course

Through structured sessions, you will learn about family responses to the trauma of mental illness and receive up-to-date information on serious conditions, including symptoms, medications, and side effects. The course provides a safe space to practice problem-solving skills and communication techniques, develop proactive strategies for handling crises or relapses, and learn how to navigate local community resources. Above all, you will discover how to prioritize your own self-care and cope with daily stress.

Interested in becoming a Family-to-Family Teacher?

Email Heather Kendall at hkendall@namiccns.org for next steps.

NAMI Walk: Register Your Team Today

Event Details

Location

Gallery Park, 2412 West Lake Avenue, Glenview, IL 60026

(free parking available)

Event Schedule

9:00 AM Registration Opens

9:45 AM Opening Ceremony

10:00 AM Walk Begins

12:00 PM Event Ends

Every step at the NAMI Walk helps fund free programs like Family-to-Family, support groups, and mental health education across our community. Whether you walk solo, join a team, or simply donate, you're helping make sure support is there for anyone who needs it.

Ready to get started? 

Click the button below to register, donate, or form a team today.

Questions about NAMIWalks? We're here to help you every step of the way — reach out to Jackie Smolyar at jsmolyar@namiccns.org.

Help Us Spread the Word
Not everyone reading this will register or donate to NAMIWalks today – but almost everyone can share this with someone else. Forward this newsletter to a family member, post about NAMIWalks in your workplace channels, or simply mention it to a friend. Awareness is often the first step toward someone finding support they didn't know was available, and word-of-mouth from people they trust is one of the most powerful

tools we have. 

We need more walkers, more teams, and more donations this year to keep pace with the growing number of families turning to NAMI CCNS — and reaching them starts with you talking about it.

Easing into the Season

Even a season we look forward to can quietly affect our mood and energy. As daylight hours shrink, here are a few simple ways to take care of yourself this Fall:

• Get outside early. Morning light helps regulate your body's internal clock, supporting better mood and sleep as days get shorter – one more reason to lace up for the NAMI Walk!

• Keep a routine. Busier fall schedules can throw off your rhythm. Anchoring your day with consistent meals, sleep, and downtime helps you stay grounded.

• Lean on connection. Whether it's a quick text to a friend or a room full of people who get it, connection is one of the simplest protective factors for mental health. That's exactly what Family-to-Family and the Walk are built for – real support, right when you need it.

• Notice the shift, don't ignore it. If your mood dips as the season changes, that's worth paying attention to. NAMI CCNS support groups exist for exactly this – you don't have to navigate it alone.

Small, steady habits now, and a strong support system can make all the difference as we head into the darker months.

Not sure where to start? NAMI CCNS offers several free, peer-led support groups you can lean on this season:

• Family Support Group — for any adult supporting a loved one experiencing mental health symptoms, offering perspective from others who've faced similar challenges.

• Grief and Loss Support Group — a space to process the loss of someone with mental illness, led by facilitators who've experienced loss themselves.

• Balance for Success Recovery Support Group — for those balancing mental health recovery with school or work life.

• Connection Recovery Support Group — a peer-led group for adults working on mental health recovery, open to any diagnosis.

• Veterans Support Group — a walk-in, no-registration space for veterans and Gold Star Families to talk through housing, healthcare, and the transition to civilian life.

Find a group that fits: www.namiccns.org/support-groups

August Recurring Support Groups & Programs

Whether you're living with a mental health condition or supporting someone who is, NAMI Cook County North Suburban offers free support groups throughout August. All programs are free, confidential, and led by trained facilitators with lived experience.

NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group

NAMI Connections is a free, peer-led support group program for adults working on mental health recovery. You will gain insight from hearing the challenges and successes of others. The groups are led by NAMI-trained facilitators who’ve been there.

Online - NAMI Connection Recovery ZOOM Links

• Mondays | 4:00–5:30 PM

• Saturdays | 4:00–5:30 PM

NAMI Veterans Support Group

This support group is for veterans living with a mental illness or mental health issues and Gold Star Families. Share problems you are facing and learn how others have dealt with the same issues. In a confidential environment, share your concerns and ask questions about housing, medications, government programs, therapists, transitioning from military to civilian life and anything else troubling you. You can talk with no fear of stigma or shame. No registration, just walk in. You will be welcomed!

In Person - Click Here for Meeting Details

• 2nd and 4th Tuesdays | 6:30–7:30 PM

NAMI Family Support Group

NAMI’s Family Support Group is a peer-led support group for any adult with a loved one who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. Gain insight from the challenges and successes of others facing similar experiences.

Online - NAMI Family Support ZOOM Links

• Mondays | 7:00 PM

• 1st & 3rd Tuesdays | 6:00–7:30 PM

• 2nd & 4th Tuesdays | 7:00–8:30 PM

Hybrid (In Person & Online) - NAMI Family Support ZOOM Links and Meeting Info

• Saturdays | 9:00–11:00 AM

NAMI Balance for Success

This support group is designed to balance recovery from a mental illness with life at college or work. Focus is on the challenges that come with balancing the everyday pressures of work or college life and living with a diagnosed mental illness.

Online - NAMI Balance for Success ZOOM Links

• Tuesdays | 7:00–8:30 PM

Grief & Loss Support Group

When a person with mental illness is no longer with us, it’s natural to grieve. Through the Grief and Support group, participants find healthy ways of remembering and honoring someone they care about. You will find a community of others who understand your pain, and like you, are learning to let go, needing to let go of blame and becoming whole again.

Online - NAMI Grief & Loss ZOOM Links

• Saturdays | 10:00 AM–12:30 PM

Upcoming Community Events

Here's a look at where you can find us this season:

Glenbrook Fest - Saturday, September 19

Time: 12:00 - 5:00 PM

Location: Harms Woods Grove #1, Glenview IL

A celebration of art, music, and culture raising awareness for community health and wellness resources, hosted by the newly launched

Glenbrook South Alumni Association.

Tickets here: Glenbrook Fest

Help Us Continue to Serve Our Community

There are so many ways to help us continue serving our community — and every one of them makes a difference.

Become a Teacher
Sign up to become a Family-to-Family or Peer-to-Peer Teacher and help guide others through their mental health journey.

Email hkendall@namiccns.org to learn more.

Volunteer
Lend a hand at NAMIWalks or one of our other community events — we couldn't do it without volunteers like you.

Attend an Event
Join us at a NAMI CCNS event, support group, or class, and be part of building a stronger, more connected community.

Spread the Word
Share our mission with friends, family, and neighbors. Helping others learn about our resources is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to support our work.

Make a Donation
Your financial contribution directly supports our mission to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness through support, education, advocacy, and research. Everything we do at NAMI CCNS is only possible because of people like you.

On behalf of the NAMI CCNS Team and those we serve — thank you for being a vital part of our community!

To make a donation, click the button below.

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NAMI CCNS
8324 Skokie Blvd
Skokie, Illinois 60077
United States

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hello@namiccns.org

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