Rockford area organizations unite to address mental health issues

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — As part of Mental Health Month, numerous local organizations joined the National Alliance of Mental Illness of Northern Illinois in connecting the community with mental wellness resources.

The third annual “Building Bridges to Hope” event featured keynote speaker Jamie Tworkowski. His book, “To Write Love on Her Arms” is recognized as an award-winning leader in mental health and suicide prevention.

If anyone who wanted to make it to this event was unable, here is a list of resources in the Rockford area:

• Boys and Girls Club of Rockford
  offered resources on how youth can develop in an emotionally healthy way, and increase access to mental health care.
• Brightpoint provided services for pregnant mothers through support and education on topics including nutrition, labor, delivery preparedness, coping with stress, and postpartum care. They also offer prenatal groups.
• Carpenter’s Place offers housing and employment assistance
• City of Rockford Health & Human Services shared programs available to the community, including housing programs, energy programs, and community action programs.
• Crusader Community Health assists with many mental health issues, including diagnosis, therapy, crisis intervention, and medication-assisted treatment.
• Emmaus Health Partners and Family Counseling Services provided therapy services.
• Employment assistance is offered by Bridgeway, Goodwill, and The Workforce Connection
• Family Peace Center offers services to those suffering from interpersonal violence, including counselling, safe supervised child supervision, legal services, and shelter.
• Food Pantries including Rock River Valley Pantry, Cornucopia Food Pantry, and Northern Illinois Food Bank provide food to those in need.
• Housing assistance is offered by Rock River Homeless Coalition, Rockford Housing Authority, MELD, Rockford Rescue Mission, Shelter Care Ministries, HUD, and WCHA.
• Lockwood Park’s Equine Assisted Services utilize horses in activities where participants learn foundational social and emotional skills to help enhance their well-being and interpersonal relationships
• Lifescape had a focus on senior wellness, including tools to recognize isolation, loneliness, and depression.
• Live4Lali seeks to reduce the stigma against substance abuse and provides resources through prevention, education, treatment, and support.
• Marshmallow’s Hope offers crucial services to those in need, providing a beacon of hope in times of darkness through youth counseling, mentorship, and suicide prevention school assemblies.
• OSF Trauma Recovery Center helps victims of violent crimes.
• Prairie State Legal Services gives access to legal services for low-income, elderly, and vulnerable people to meet their basic needs.
• Ramp’s mental health services for disabled individuals focus on mental health referrals, independent living services, youth education and advocacy, technical and accessibility audits
• Remedies Renewing Lives offers help to survivors of domestic violence, substance abuse treatment, gambling addiction treatment, and human trafficking services.
• Rockford Area Arts Council promotes mental wellness through positive mental stimulation and outlets through the arts.
• Rockford Barbell supports youth through free after-school programs with a mission to improve the social and emotional well-being of youth through mindful movement and trauma-informed practices.
• Rockford Sexual Assault Counseling provides resources for sexual assault survivors, teen dating violence, domestic violence, child advocacy, workplace resources, and more.
• Rosecrance Behavioral Health has mental health and substance abuse programs for youth, veterans, front-line workers, adults, and the elderly.
• Jubilee Center’s day program provides case management, intervention, and a welcoming day program including activities and meals. This program focuses on adults living with mental illness who are currently homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
• Stepping Stones gives access to mental health treatment options for people of all ages and their families through counseling and/or residential care in home supervision, and support services.
• Tommy Corral Memorial Foundation offers support through both youth and adult educational programs, support groups, retreats, and instruction in recognizing signs of mental health or substance use challenges.
• YMCA of Rock River Valley offers healthy living and activities that boost mental positivity.
• Youth Services Network focuses on providing and coordinating services to improve the well-being of children, young adults, and families.

“We all need a little bit of help sometimes.” Executive director of NAMI Northern Illinois, Danielle Angileri, told us. “I think mental health, mental illness is a spectrum, so you can have high-functioning anxiety, you can do really well in the world, or you can have an anxiety disorder that is debilitating, you can’t leave the house, for example. I think we all operate on a spectrum, and it’s okay to come find out what resources are available just in case you run across someone you love one day that might need it.”

Anyone looking for immediate mental health services, visit this 24/7 chat line.