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.

Coping Strategies for Parents

  1. Become educated and get involved. The illness is no one’s fault. NAMI of Greater Chicago offers free family education classes—Family to Family—that cover signs and symptoms, coping strategies, crisis plans, etc. for mental illnesses. These are 12-week courses taught by trained family members of persons with mental illness. To sign up for the next set of classes, call NAMI of Greater Chicago at (312) 563-0445.
  2. While doctors may not be able to share information with you without your child’s written consent, there is no law against them listening to your concerns, stories, or observations. It may sometimes take a while to find a professional or treatment plan that works best for your child. For referrals to Chicago-area resources, please call NAMI of Greater Chicago (312) 563-0445.
  3. Maintain the same relationship with your child as before they became ill. The illness is one aspect of your child’s life, not the sum of it.
  4. Don’t forget to take care of yourself, too. Join a family support group. You are not alone.
  5. Stay positive. Remember that treatment takes time, but it does work.