Former U.S. Congressman Patrick Kennedy, son of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, believes the key to improving mental health care in America lies in a shift toward financial incentives that have driven success in other industries. Speaking at the inaugural DuPage County Mental Health Summit on Saturday in Wheaton, Kennedy emphasized the urgency of tackling…
DuPage County – May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) is promoting mental well-being and treatment resources within our community. The need for immediate crisis support is more critical than ever. The 988 hotline serves as a lifeline for individuals experiencing mental health crises. By dialing 988, residents can…
The Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) and Google Public Sector on Monday to announce the creation of BEACON (Behavioral Health Care and Ongoing Navigation): A Service Access Portal for Illinois Youth. Powered by Google Cloud’s secure, scalable, and advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing technology, the new state-of-the-art online portal will provide a…
The holiday season is typically seen as a time of joy and merriment; of family and friends gathering and celebrating together. However, many have begun to have honest conversations about the darker side of “the most wonderful time of year.” For many with mental illness, or those who have family and loved ones who face…
IDPH Accepting Applications for Suicide Prevention Grant One organization will receive $312,000 to develop training on identifying and helping at-risk youth SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is now accepting applications for a $312,000 suicide prevention grant. The federally-funded grant will fund a single organization to improve the ability of staffers in…
The DuPage County Board and DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) are pleased to announce the new DuPage Council on Strengthening the System for Mental Health and Substance Use Care (DCSS). This Council is an ambitious transformation of the HOPE Taskforce designed to further integrate countywide efforts to improve mental health and reduce substance use disorders….
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), observed in October, is a time to recognize victims and raise awareness about the devastating impact of domestic violence. Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another partner. This kind of abuse affects…
Social Media and Youth Mental Health Impact and Advice for Parents Source: Information Provided By Northwestern Medicine In May 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General released a warning on the impact of social media on teenagers. Up to 95% of youth ages 13 to 17 report using social media. One third report using social media “almost…
From the Editor’s Desk: a September 11th memoir Where were you on 9/11? It is a common question posed by people in my generation (Gen X) in the US, just as older people remember the attacks on Pearl Harbor on that fateful day of December 7, 1941. I want to share my story and experience…
As September begins, so does the 15th annual Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just under 50,000 people died by suicide in 2022. The CDC also reported that men accounted for over 39,000 of these…
