quick contacts

Questions about NCCOP? Want to help? Contact nccop@namigc.org.

For more information, referrals, support, and education about serious mental illness, call NAMI of Greater Chicago at (312) 563-0445, or visit the NAMI of Greater Chicago website, namigc.org.

Basic Facts about Mental Illness & Treatment to Remember

  1. Mental illnesses are treatable. There is HOPE. Treatment works. Many people with mental illnesses are able to continue to work or go to school and have fulfilling lives. However, it is very important that these illnesses are treated as soon as possible with the assistance of a mental health professional.
  2. Remember that mental illnesses are “no fault brain diseases”— the result of a combination of genetic, biochemical, and environmental factors. While we don’t know the specific cause, when a person develops a mental illness, the result is a chemical imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain.
  3. Mental illnesses are commonly treated with medication either to release or inhibit the release of certain neurotransmitters and thereby restore the brain’s ability to function effectively. These are strong medications that are best prescribed by trained mental health professionals—psychiatrists—not general practitioners. Many of these medications require careful dosing and monitoring, but when a person finds the medication right for them, the relief from symptoms can be great.
  4. Medications used to treat mental illnesses can take several weeks to become fully effective. Be patient, but keep your loved one’s doctor informed if you see any reactions to the medications, or if the medications don’t seem to be working. Remember that while a doctor cannot necessarily share information with you about your loved one without that loved one’s written consent, there is no law that says the doctor cannot listen to your input and observations.
  5. Psychotherapy and other rehabilitation programs, in combination with medication, can be effective in helping people manage their symptoms. For Chicago area referrals, please contact NAMI of Greater Chicago at (312) 563-0445.
  6. It’s important that you become familiar with mental illnesses by doing research and talking with professionals in order to find the best possible treatment options. Your visit to this site is a great first step; if you have any additional questions or concerns, please call the NAMI of Greater Chicago office at (312) 563-0445

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