By Jim Beers, Contributing Writer
CHESTER – A staff member for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, visited the January 26 Chester Area Christian Food Pantry Mobile Market to distribute educational materials to clients regarding two new programs available to citizens of Randolph County.
Rhonda Wilson of the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) visits with clients at the monthly Chester Area Christian Food Pantry Mobile Market. At the January 2022 Mobile Market Wilson announced two new programs offered for citizens of Randolph County. There are now Recovery and Support Groups for Alcoholic Anonymous and Substance Misuse, Recovery and Support and Resources for Military Service Members, Veterans and their Families. Jim Beers Photo
Rhonda Wilson RN, MS, NAMI, SWI, said the two programs include one for Recovery and Support Groups and another for Military Service members, Veterans and their Families. Both are relatively new and are excellent resources for Randolph County citizens.
Recovery and Support Groups
There are two different Recovery and Support Groups being offered; one is Alcoholics Anonymous while the other is for Substance Misuse, Recovery and Support.
In Randolph County there are five Alcoholic Anonymous groups being offered. Those are located in Chester, Coulterville, Sparta, Steeleville, and Tilden. Details about those offerings are as follow:
Alcoholic Anonymous Groups
Chester
Peace Lutheran Church
125 Opdyke Street
(618) 826-3140
Coulterville
Fire Station
215 East Maple Street
(618) 758-2341
Sparta
Alano Club
215 West Jackson Street
Sundays 2:00 p.m., Mondays 8:00 p.m.
Wednesdays 8:00 p.m. Thursdays 7:30 p.m.
Fridays 8:00 p.m.
Westminster Presbyterian Church
360 East Broadway
(618) 443-2025
Steeleville
Mondays 6:00 p.m. via Zoom
Tilden
First Baptist Church
106 North Center Street
(618) 587-5541
There are also five Substance Misuse, Recovery, and Support Groups in Randolph County. Those are located in Sparta, Cutler, Chester, and via NAMI on Zoom or in person. Details about those offerings are as follow:
Substance Misuse, Recovery, and Support Groups.
Narcotics Anonymous-Sparta
Alano Club
215 W. Jackson St.
Tuesdays 1:00 p.m. and Saturdays 10:00 a.m.
Celebrate Recovery-Cutler
301 Railroad St. I
(618) 497-2953
Tuesdays 6:30 p.m.
Life Recovery-Chester
High Street I
Saturdays 5:00 p.m.
NAMI Family Support Groups-Zoom
NAMISWI.org
NAMI Connection-Zoom/In-Person
NAMISWI.org I
Wednesdays 6:30 p.m.
Mental Health Resources for Military Service members, Veterans and their Families
The national Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) have developed Homefront Mental Health Services “exclusively” for Military Service Members, Veterans and Their Families. That website is now “LIVE”.
To register and access the content available, interested military members, veterans and/or their families can go to the website at: https://homefrontresources.nami.org/. NAMI Homefront Mental Health Resources is available 24 hours per day, seven days a week and includes information about the following:
*Mental health conditions
* Treatment options
* Approaches to increase overll wellness
* Tips for self-care and managing stress
* Communication strategies
* Transitioning from military to civilian life
* Links to helpful organizations and crisis services
* AND MORE!!!
The NAMI Homefront Team strongly encourages any military service members. Veterans, and/or their families to contact NAMI if and when any issues arise regarding any of the above listed issues or situations.
Wilson said, “I like to visit the monthly Mobile Markets held on the fourth Wednesdays of each month to offer information regarding any of the myriad of services provided by NAMI.”
“The Chester Area Christian Food Pantry hosts the monthly Mobile Markets at the Cohen Recreation Complex north of Chester and it is a great opportunity to meet and greet the clients of the pantry and educate/inform them about all of the wonderful services we offer via NAMI.”
Wilson recently introduced the Randolph County Resource Guide to the citizens of Randolph County. His unique and very valuable 80-page resource contains information about a wide variety of resources to assist the citizens of Randolph County with numerous areas from A-to-Z. Such areas include: Adoption, Foster Care, Alzheimer’s, Animals, Autism, Child Abuse, Children and Family Services, CromWell, Cancer, Cell Phone Use, Center for Disease Control, Clothing, Crisis, Dental Care, Computers and Technology Assistance, and much, much more!