NAMI Southwestern Illinois

NAMI Southwestern Illinois NAMI Southwestern Illinois provides free advocacy, education & support for those affected by mental illness. Follow us to learn more about what we do!

As part of the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, we serve 10 counties in IL.

01/22/2026

People who struggle often learn how to mask—at work, with friends, even with family. They laugh, they function, they show up… while fighting battles you can’t see.

Let’s stop assuming. Let’s start believing people.
Normalizing mental health means understanding that it doesn’t look one way.

01/21/2026

Women’s support group via zoom Thursday nights at 7pm! Email us for the link INFO@NAMISWI.ORG

Nutritional psychiatry is an emerging field that explores the powerful connection between what we eat and how we feel. R...
01/21/2026

Nutritional psychiatry is an emerging field that explores the powerful connection between what we eat and how we feel. Research shows that nutrition can play a meaningful role in mental health by influencing brain chemistry, inflammation, and even how our nervous system responds to stress.

Our brains need fuel to function well—just like the rest of our bodies. Certain nutrients support the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which help regulate mood, focus, and motivation.

Key ways nutrition supports mental well-being:

• Gut-brain connection: About 90% of serotonin is produced in the gut. A balanced gut microbiome can positively impact mood and anxiety.

• Blood sugar balance: Stable blood sugar helps reduce mood swings, irritability, and fatigue.

• Anti-inflammatory foods: Chronic inflammation has been linked to depression and anxiety. Foods rich in omega-3s, antioxidants, and fiber can help.

• Micronutrients matter: Vitamins and minerals like B-vitamins, magnesium, zinc, and iron play a role in brain health.

🥦 This doesn’t mean food replaces therapy or medication. Nutritional psychiatry is about adding another layer of support—meeting people where they are and recognizing that mental health care is holistic.

Small, realistic changes can make a difference. Progress, not perfection.

If you’re struggling, you’re not alone—and support comes in many forms.

01/21/2026

Neuroplasticity is your brain’s incredible ability to change, adapt, and create new pathways—at any age.
In simple terms: your brain can learn new patterns, unlearn unhelpful ones, and heal over time.

Why does that matter for mental health?

When we experience anxiety, depression, trauma, or chronic stress, our brains can get stuck in survival mode. Neuroplasticity means those patterns aren’t permanent.

💡 Benefits of neuroplasticity for mental health:
✔️ Helps reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression
✔️ Supports emotional regulation
✔️ Improves focus, memory, and resilience
✔️ Strengthens coping skills
✔️ Reinforces recovery—not perfection, progress

And here’s the powerful part 👇
Exercise is one of the most effective ways to strengthen neuroplasticity.

🏃‍♀️🧘‍♂️ How movement helps your brain:
• Increases brain chemicals that support growth and mood
• Reduces stress hormones
• Encourages new neural connections
• Improves sleep (which your brain needs to heal)

This doesn’t mean intense workouts or perfection.
Even walking, stretching, yoga, or gentle movement can make a real difference.

Every time you move your body, practice a coping skill, or choose rest—you’re helping your brain rewire toward healing. 💙

Your brain is not broken.
It’s adaptable.
And recovery is possible.

01/20/2026

Whatever you’re struggling with right now—that’s okay. Just don’t get stuck there. Support, healing, and hope are still possible.

Mental health and physical health don’t exist in separate lanes—they influence each other every day.When your mental hea...
01/20/2026

Mental health and physical health don’t exist in separate lanes—they influence each other every day.

When your mental health is struggling, your body often feels it too:
• Fatigue or low energy
• Changes in sleep or appetite
• Headaches, stomach issues, muscle tension
• Weakened immune response

And when your physical health is impacted, it can affect your mental well-being:
• Chronic pain can increase anxiety or depression
• Illness or injury can lead to stress, grief, or isolation
• Limited mobility can affect mood and motivation

This relationship is reciprocal—each one affects the other.

💡 Taking care of your mental health is taking care of your physical health.
💡 Taking care of your body can support your mental well-being.

Small steps matter:
✨ Rest
✨ Nourishment
✨ Movement (in ways that feel accessible)
✨ Medication and therapy when needed
✨ Compassion for yourself on hard days

If you’re struggling in either area, it doesn’t mean you’re weak—it means you’re human. And support for one can help support the other.

You deserve whole-person care. 💙

01/20/2026

💊 Why staying with the same pharmacy matters—especially for mental health 💊

If you live with a mental health condition, staying with the same pharmacy or pharmacy group can make a bigger difference than you might realize.

Here’s why it can help:

✔️ Continuity of care – Your pharmacist gets to know your medication history, what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what changes have been made over time.
✔️ Medication safety – Using one pharmacy helps reduce the risk of drug interactions, duplicate prescriptions, or dosing errors.
✔️ Easier support during changes – Mental health medications are often adjusted. A consistent pharmacy can catch concerns early and help answer questions.
✔️ Less stress & confusion – Refills, insurance issues, and prior authorizations are smoother when your pharmacy knows you.
✔️ A trusted relationship – Pharmacists are part of your care team. Feeling comfortable asking questions matters—especially on hard days.

Mental health care isn’t just about therapy and appointments—it’s also about the everyday systems that support you. Consistency can bring peace of mind, and peace of mind matters. 💙

If you’re struggling or feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone—and you deserve care that works with you.

01/19/2026

It’s Monday… and we know not everyone got the day off for MLK Day 💙
Today we honor Dr. King’s legacy, and we also see you — working, showing up, pushing through.
‘Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, “What are you doing for others?”’ — Martin Luther King Jr.
What if our workplaces were places where support, compassion, and mental health mattered as much as deadlines?
When work culture values people, every day of the week becomes easier to live — not just Friday.
”

Make a plan for support. Checkout our calendars for connection and family support groups …
01/19/2026

Make a plan for support. Checkout our calendars for connection and family support groups …

01/19/2026

If you want your employees to be happy and thriving, sometimes you have to start with their mental well-being.

Does your company culture encourage open conversations about mental health?
Do your employees feel supported—or stretched to the point of burnout?

Ask yourself this:
👉 What would your employees say about Sunday nights?
Are they excited for the week ahead… or already feeling dread?
And just as important—have you ever asked them?

We spend about one-third of our lives at work. That’s a significant amount of time for stress, burnout, and mental health struggles to go unnoticed—or unsupported.

At NAMI Southwestern Illinois, we believe in seeing the person first, then the job. Our StigmaFree Workplace Presentations help organizations:
✔️ Reduce stigma
✔️ Open conversations around mental health
✔️ Identify burnout and stress early
✔️ Create healthier, more supportive workplace cultures

If you’re ready to invest in your people and strengthen your workplace from the inside out, we’d love to talk.

📧 Email us at info@namiswi.org to book a mental health in the workplace presentation
✨ Let’s make 2026 a great year for your team

01/18/2026

Peer support is mental health support from someone who has been there. It’s people with lived experience of mental health challenges walking alongside others who are currently struggling.

Research shows that peer support can:
✨ Reduce feelings of isolation
✨ Increase hope and empowerment
✨ Improve coping skills and confidence
✨ Help people stay engaged in their recovery

There’s something powerful about hearing, “I’ve been where you are—and it can get better.” Peer support isn’t about fixing or diagnosing. It’s about listening, understanding, and offering connection through shared experience.

Recovery doesn’t happen in isolation—and no one should have to navigate mental health challenges alone. Peer support reminds us that healing is possible and that support can come from someone who truly understands.

If you’re struggling, you’re not weak—and you’re not alone. Connection can be a turning point.

Address

144 E Ferguson
Wood River, IL
62095

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when NAMI Southwestern Illinois posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to NAMI Southwestern Illinois:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category