Mental Health

In the years since Stefania’s 2022 death from mental illness at age 28, her mother, Xristina Rahn, has worked to put a more complex, nuanced and hopeful message into a place where she says teens need it most — their schools.

Listen to the Walls 102 interview with Tyler Phillips and Sarah Jones of Illinois Valley Recovery, a non-profit created in 2024 to help the community with addiction and substance abuse

Clearbrook, one of the largest Illinois nonprofit organizations for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, on Jan. 29 hosted a ceremonial ribbon cutting and open house at its new Community Mental Health Center in Libertyville.

Joliet community mental health program leads to 50% decline overall in suicides, no teenage suicides in past two years

Between 2012 and 2018, there was a 34.6% increase in the occurrence of mental health diagnoses among children ages 4 to 17, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Communication is vital while developing farm transition plans.

GriefShare is designed for people who are experiencing grief due to the loss of a loved one. It is a nondenominational, faith-based seminar that is offered in Catholic and Protestant churches around the world. 

The Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon cutting M/I Homes from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday at 25542 W. Alabaster Circle in Plainfield.

Pilsen Wellness Center wants to open at 971 Collins St., in Joliet, a site once part of the surrounding U.S. Steel complex.

It will feature keynote speaker Dan Miller, a retired United States Marine and member of the Wounded Warrior Project’s Warriors Speak team, who will share information about WWP’s programs and services.

Plainfield Township beta tested the Thriveworks program in 2023 and then increased its budget in 2024 for mental health services.

The new location, at 212 W. Blackhawk Drive in Byron, is expected to open in March. It will have a full array of services for children, adults and families that are offered at other outpatient offices.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness for Will-Grundy counties is scheduling support groups, education courses and community presentations at no cost to residents in January.

Young Widows Group, Men's Coffee Group and Bereavement Book Club available.

Free mental health care is available in Will County. Here’s how to access some of those resources.

The Will County Health Department is expanding its mental health care services at its Bolingbrook and Monee offices.

The need for assistance has continued to rise in Will County since the COVID-19 pandemic. And that need is highest among families working one or more jobs.

Troy Township has now partnered with Thriveworks to offer Troy Township residents affordable and accessible mental health care.

The Joliet fire and police departments hosted their second Active Threat and Mental Wellness conference for first responders to discuss the issues of responding to violence and combating mental health issues in the community and their own ranks.

Bonnie Hassan, director of Trinity outpatient services, and Jennifer Hodges, a residential director, received the appointments to two separate Illinois-run task forces.

More than 30 amateur, professional and commercial cooks will serve samples of their appetizers, entrees, side dishes or desserts for attendees to judge at the event in Joliet.

A ribbon cutting will precede tours of the youth counseling center created by the Community Foundation of Grundy County.

Recover-Con is for people in recovery from substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health issues and all those impacted by the disease. Whether you work in the field or receive services, this conference will give you valuable information and networking opportunities.

Rachel Evans of Minooka, director for the Living Room in Joliet, and her family were heading to a birthday party in Homer Glen when neighbors called to say the Evans' home was on fire.

The International Day of Peace Celebration & Peace Walk in Joliet featured speeches, tables with informational literatures and a walk showing attendees’ commitment to peace.

Only 20% of those with a substance use disorder get the help they need. There are many barriers, but stigma and lack of coverage or adequate coverage are two major reasons.

Authentic Counseling and Therapy is located at 111 W. Jackson St., Morris and is owned by Christina Christensen & Jessica Anderson-Gonzalez.

Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy sees a clear path forward for the improvement of mental health care in the nation, and it comes down to applying the financial incentives that have strengthened other industries.

NAMI Sauk Area will highlight the importance of suicide prevention and provide critical resources by actively engaging in initiatives to support and educate the community throughout September.

Former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy to keynote DuPage County mental health summit

A new, Chicago-based nonprofit is making strides to improve the futures of Illinois’ adopted, foster and kinship students.

Tenna Mackey is the first executive director of the Will County Community Mental Health Board, whose mission is to evaluate and improve community mental health services in the county.

Trinity Services in New Lenox is seeking historical photos and newspaper articles for its 75th anniversary celebration in 2025.

Association for Individual Development will host an “All Hallow’s Eve” benefit auction to raise money for individuals with developmental, behavioral and crisis needs across Kane, Kendall and other suburban counties.

Based on the need for another men’s sober living house in Lee County, Sinnissippi Centers is targeting the county’s opioid settlement dollars as one of its main sources of funding for the new venture.

Oswego East High School senior Mark Chapas Jr. was the type of person who was willing to give a helping hand to everyone he met.

Ecker Center for Behavioral Health is collaborating with Solarium Dance Company and Steel Beam Theatre to present “Thumbs Up,” dedicated to the life and music of the late artist Mac Miller.

Recovery Centers of America St. Charles unveiled a new program “Changing Directions” on July 15, which provides substance abuse recovery and education for young adults age 18-25.

Dwayne English, public affairs sergeant at Joliet Police Department, also has degrees in psychology, and is currently pre-licensed as a professional counselor.

Joliet's fire chief outlined how the department has been educating the community and engaging in programs to address the root causes of behavioral and mental health issues in the city.

Sinnissippi has been working to become a CCBHC for three years.

Sheriff John D. Idleburg is proud to announce that the sheriff’s multi-agency Crisis Outreach and Support Team has received national recognition and a local grant.

The grant funding will provide free tuition for accepted students into the University of St. Francis' CRSS program through June 2025.

Kane County Specialty Courts held an inspiring art show to encourage mental health and substance abuse recovery.

The Living Room is an Illinois Department of Human Services program that gives adults 24-hour, 365-day access to free emergency mental health care.

Ecker Center for for Behavioral Health seeks to raise $50,000 through its Spring 2024 Fundraising & Awareness Campaign.

Gov. JB Pritzker said it’s necessary to buck trends of the past, when discussions surrounding mental health were quickly swept under the rug, in private or public life – and received little government attention.

Sinnissippi Centers, KSB Hospital and the Partnership for a Healthy Lee County work group are conducting an #EndTheStigma campaign during May to help improve awareness of mental health. May is Mental Health Month, which was created by Mental Health in America in 1949.

Projects included in the funding are anti-violence behavioral health programs, the Kane County Food and Farm Resiliency Project and a countywide economic development organization.

The first of a trio of 5Ks benefiting the National Alliance on Mental Illinois Sauk Area and Florissa is set for Saturday, May 18. The Run for Brain Health 5K, the Florissa Family 5K and Fun Run and the NAMI Sauk Area 5K make up the Hope Series 5K: End the Stigma.