NAMI-GC College Outreach Program

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• Mental Illness: What You Can Do
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    • What Family Should Keep in Mind
    • What Friends Should Keep in Mind
    • Coping Strategies for Parents
    • Coping Strategies for Friends
    • Confidentiality Rules & Concerns
    • Basic Facts & Treatment to Remember
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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.

My child has been diagnosed with a mental illness…now what?

First of all, know that you are not alone and that there is hope. It is important to remember that your child is more than his or her diagnosis, and you should not treat him or her any differently. Just as with any physical illness, getting your child working with mental health professionals, treatment plans, and medications that work for them can boost their recovery and ensure that their symptoms do not interfere in their daily life. Persons with even the most serious cases of mental illness do recover, and treatment methods for mental illnesses are extremely effective, some illnesses having an 80% full recovery rate. While these illnesses cannot be cured—they are chronic—they can be treated and a person can live a full, fulfilling life.

Becoming more informed about mental illness and what you can do is a great next step to being there for your child. For more information on what you can do and advice from other parents who have a child with a mental illness, please go to Friends & Family.