University of Illinois Extension and Illinois 4-H are urging schools, after-school programs, and families to take small, concrete steps to help youth feel supported.

Robyn Vickers was presented the award during the May 19 Kendall County Board meeting after board members approved a resolution naming her this year’s Kendall County Citizen of the Year.

Last year, 588 residents received social services from the St. Charles Police Department’s social worker – and the department wants to continue a partnership that made it possible.

Steve Buresh said several factors contributed to his decisions to close both Plainfield stores. Buresh is now making plans to support the community in new ways.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is a national organization that provides advocacy, support and education about mental health. The Amboy High School NAMI chapter is the first Lee County high school chapter, adviser and AHS teacher Emily Rose said.

The 58th annual Charlemagne Awards were presented by the St. Charles Area Chamber of Commerce, with the highest honor bestowed on an educator who has mentored generations of young people.

A lawsuit filed Monday takes aim at companies that sell legal marijuana in Illinois and other states, claiming they don't do enough to warn people about the mental health risks. Two McHenry County attorneys are involved.

Despite limited research and transparency, Illinois counties have continued to launch new mental health courts, and advocates call for more, raising big questions about fiscal accountability and oversight

From the Illinois Answers Project: Mental health courts have proliferated across Illinois in recent decades. Now, the state has 31 courts across 25 counties. There’s at least one in most of the state’s judicial circuits, but about two million Illinoisans are still left out.

Franklin Houston was found guilty of the Class 4 felony offense of injuring a police officer while resisting arrest and the misdemeanor offense of disorderly conduct for an August 2025 incident at an Oregon school.

The national award recognizes U.S. employers who prioritize associate well-being.

Local physicians say loneliness, anxiety, and lifestyle shifts are contributing to long-term health risks for millennials

The National Alliance on Mental Illness McHenry County’s upcoming annual gala has a new name and venue this year.

Restaurants that want to survive in 2026 need plenty of “creativity and adaptability,” according to the National Restaurant Association.

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville, is one of three lawmakers proposing legislation that would address suicide rates among young people by providing more data-based training for professionals in crisis intervention fields.

Dani Holland with Shaw Local Radio interviews Renee Mustered, a La Salle-Peru mom who created a mental health and grief support app after losing her son.

On this episode of Talk Line, Brandon Clark talks with Andy Jackson of Sinnissippi Centers about Self-Harm Awareness Month, recognizing the signs of self-harm, and the resources available to support those in need.

William Reeves is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs 230 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, Joliet police said.

Local author, clinical psychologist and relationship coach Kelly Flanagan will host a book signing for his USA Today bestselling book “The Road Less Triggered: Turning Conflict into Connection with a Single Choice” on Saturday at Books on First in Dixon.

The session will explore practical ways to reduce the stigma of mental health, offer tools for managing personal mental well-being and provide strategies to support others.

Cledy's House of Hope, a women's sober living home in Rock Falls, is in jeopardy of closing if financial help isn't found.

There are countless ways that people deal with pain, trauma, mental illness, and the challenges of life. One way that people, especially adolescents and young adults, try to regain control and find release is through physical self-harm.

The city of St. Charles in 2025 distributed $679,000 to nonprofits around town that offer services focusing on mental disorders, developmental disabilities and substance abuse. And applications are open for 2026 grants.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness McHenry County plans a Feb. 26 open house for its new community hub in Crystal Lake with a Living Room to address mental health crises and a Drop-In Center to combat social isolation.

Assistance resources range from mental health vouchers and crisis support lines to comprehensive financial planning tools. Economic stress takes a personal toll.

The anticipated $4.5-million expansion of Kankakee-based Harbor House is set and will be named after one of its dedicated social workers, Lorena Panozzo.

With the launch of the Kane County Circle of Care, community leaders have brought services that address mental health, early prevention, housing, food instability and childcare together.

On this episode of Talk Line, host Brandon Clark speaks with Andy Jackson from Sinnissippi Centers about Seasonal Affective Disorder, Dry January, and the mental health resources available for them.

The Braidwood Area Healthy Community Coalition, along with the Wilmington coalition, is conducting a mental health survey for adult residents of their towns.

These cuts would have affected “five critical behavioral health and suicide prevention programs, totaling over $5.94 million and affecting hundreds of people and providers,” according to a news release from the Illinois Department of Human Services.

The new position would be shared between the Yorkville Police Department and the Kendall County Sheriff’s Office. The social worker would bring “specialized expertise and support" to the department.

The Rochelle Fire Department saw an increase in total emergency calls in 2025, RFD Chief Dave Sawlsville said Jan. 2.

The redesign is meant to consolidate the previously disconnected collection of offices occupied by the school’s deans, counselors, social workers, and mental health professionals into a shared, centralized space.

A nonprofit that provides housing in Woodstock said it was cooperating with law enforcement after a man who said he lived in their housing was accused of attacking a woman and attempting to blow up a gas station.

A group of Downers Grove Township residents want to create a township 708 Mental Health Board and are working toward putting a referendum question on the November ballot

Brandon Clark sits down with licensed mental health professional Jillian Amodio, founder of Moms for Mental Health, to discuss Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Jillian shares expert insights, practical strategies, and ways to boost your mood.

While the holidays are often a time for cheer and merriment, the season also can be difficult for those experiencing mental health emergencies, grief or loss. Resources, including those specifically for youth, are available in DeKalb County:

After the mass school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, Congress appropriated $1 billion to permanently bring 14,000 mental health professionals into the schools that needed it the most.

“These times can be difficult, but also finding a way to help others can help us, too. Accepting the loss can be the most difficult," says hospital chaplain Darla Fernandez Draus.

"To support students and families while our staff is away, we’re sharing mental health resources that will be available throughout the break,” Joliet Township High School District 204 said.

The Blue Christmas service will be held at the Chapel on the Green, 107 W. Center St., Yorkville.

This is the third year United Way of Grundy County is participating in the Herald Angels campaign.

Caleb Weekley of Byron recently completed the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Recognize, Respond, and Refer mental health support course. Weekley is studying music at UW-W.

The Lake County Health Department is seeking passionate people to become Mental Health First Aid USA instructors and help fight the stigma surrounding mental health.

New Hope Presbyterian Church in Coal City will again host its annual Blue Christmas service at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, the the church said in a news release.

A ribboncutting event was held Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, for Rochelle Community Hospital’s Behavioral Health Services department that launched in April.

The 211 Helpline is a free, multi-lingual, confidential, 24-hour information and referral service where a live person helps the caller access resources and supports for a wide variety of needs.

Serenity Hospice and Home is hosting a special Blue Christmas event to offer a space of comfort, reflection and hope for anyone who may be struggling during this time of year.

The GPS Parent Series will present “Nourishing the Modern Brain: The Food, Mood and Health Connection” with best-selling author and psychiatrist Dr. Drew Ramsey at noon and 7 p.m. Nov. 18 via Zoom.

Joliet police detective Jeremy Eaton addresses mental health in veterans through five different outlets.