Mental Health Help at
NAMI DuPage: The Living Room Program
A walk-in peer-led mental health clinic, a safe space and listening ear. Free and available 24/7, starting October 1st, 2026.
What Is the NAMI DuPage Living Room?
The NAMI DuPage Living Room is a free, peer-led alternative to the emergency room for adults 18 and older experiencing a mental health crisis. Available to residents across DuPage County, our peer-led mental health help Living Room provides a calm, non-clinical setting where guests can talk through what they’re experiencing with someone who understands, de-escalate their situation, build a plan to manage symptoms, and leave with practical resources and support moving forward.
NAMI DuPage's Living Room is part of the statewide Living Room Program funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) Division of Mental Health, and one of nearly two dozen Living Rooms operating across Illinois.
NAMI DuPage Living Room
Linda A. Kurzawa Community Center
117 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187
Open 24/7 | Adults 18+ | Always free
Phone: (630) 752-0066
Questions before you come in? Contact Claudia L’Huillier, Living Room Supervisor c.lhuillier@namidupage.org or (630) 752-0066.
Free, 24/7, and Open to Walk-Ins
- Always free. No fee to visit, no insurance requirement, and no bill afterward. Services are funded through state and community grants.
- Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (starting October 1st, 2026) Mental health challenges don't keep business hours, so neither do we.
- Walk-ins welcome. Walk-in peer-led mental health clinic. No appointment, no referral, and no diagnosis required.
- Do I qualify for services? You qualify simply by needing support.
- Adults 18 and older.
What to Expect at the NAMI DuPage Living Room
When you arrive, you'll complete a brief check-in to ensure your safety and determine whether the Living Room is the best fit for your current needs. From there, you'll sit one-on-one with a Recovery Support Specialist who will talk with you through the immediate crisis. They will offer empathetic listening, practical suggestions, and connections to additional resources.
A clinician is available for consultation if needed. If your symptoms can't be managed on site, the Living Room Services team will make recommendations for a higher level of care, including the Crisis Recovery Center located next door.
After your visit, you can request additional one-on-one sessions with a Recovery Support Specialist for continued peer support.
Our Recovery Support Specialists
A Recovery Support Specialist is someone with their own lived experience of a mental health condition who is living in recovery. Each one is trained to provide one-on-one peer support, with formal preparation in crisis intervention, de-escalation, trauma-informed care, and Mental Health First Aid.
How the Living Room Differs From the Emergency Room
Emergency rooms do their job well; however, they're built for medical emergencies. For someone in emotional distress who isn't in immediate medical danger, the Living Room is often a better, preferable starting point.
Check out the following examples.
The Living Room: Drop-in model, seen quickly
Emergency Room: Triaged alongside medical emergencies
The Living Room: Completely free
Emergency Room: Medical emergency
The Living Room: Completely free
Emergency Room: Insurance billing and an ER bill afterward
The Living Room: Warm, comfortable, private
Emergency Room: Public, shared
The Living Room: Peer-led, trauma-informed conversation
Emergency Room: Public, shared
When To Call 988 Or 911 Instead
The NAMI Living Room DuPage is not a substitute for emergency medical care. If you or someone you're with is in immediate danger, call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or 911.
The NAMI DuPage Living Room Recovery Support Specialists are trained to recognize when a guest needs a higher level of care and will help connect you to it.
More Free Support From
NAMI DuPage
If you're looking for free support groups near you, or mental health help beyond a single visit, NAMI DuPage offers a range of no-cost programs, built on the same philosophy as our Living Room. Whether you're managing a mental health condition, in need of anxiety and depression help, or looking for a space built around your community or identity, there's a support group for you. All are free and peer-led by trained facilitators who've been there themselves, and no referral is needed.
Not Ready To Walk In Yet?
Contact Claudia L'Huillier, Living Room Supervisor — c.lhuillier@namidupage.org or (630) 752-0066.
Prefer we reach out to you? Send us your name and the best way to contact you, and someone from the Living Room team will follow up — usually within one business day.
If you need support right now, you don't have to wait for a reply — the Living Room is open 24/7, no appointment needed. In an emergency, call 988 or 911.