Coping with the stresses of every day life can be difficult and are expected. Feeling sad, anxious, overwhelmed or having other symptoms of distress such as trouble sleeping and loss of appetite are normal. If symptoms become worse reach out for support and help.  The following are free mental health resources available to all area residents:

Helplines

Niles Family Services Crisis Support

• 847-588-8460 | Website

Turning Point Crisis Support

• 847-933-0051 | Website

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

• 800-273-TALK (8255) | Website

Illinois Department of Human Services Domestic Violence Helpline

• 877-TO END DV or 877-863-6338 (Voice) 1-877-863-6339 (TTY) |  Website

National Alliance on Mental Illness Chicago 

• Dial 311 or 833-626-4244 | Website

Bright Star Community Outreach

• 833-TURN-123 or 833-887-6123 | Website

Chicago Department of Public Health Mental Health Center Teletherapy

• 312-747-1020 | Website

Textlines

Illinois Department of Health

• Text COVID to 312-500-3836 to receive daily updates about COVID-19 
• Text TALK (English) or HABLAR (Spanish) to 552020 to access emotional support
• Text UNEMPLOYMENT, FOOD or SHELTER to 552020 to receive information on those topics

For more information about housing and shelters, please view these Illinois Department of Human Services Housing, Shelter & Homelessness Resources.

Crisis Text Line

• Text HOME to 741741 to access a trained crisis counselor 24-hours a day

Coping with Anxiety

Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.

• Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety Part 1
• Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety Part 2

Coping with Loss and Grief

There is no right or wrong way to grieve, but there are healthy ways to deal with the grieving process. These tips can help.

• Teen Grief Handbook by Hospice of Santa Cruz County
• Teen Grief Resources by Hospice of the Valley

You can find Fiction and Nonfiction books about Grief and Loss here.

All About LGBTQIA

LGBTQIA is an acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, and asexual. These terms are used to describe a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Websites:

• The Trevor Project: Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention
• Q Chat Space:Digital LGBTQ+ center 
• GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation)
• GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network)
• PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
• Genderqueer and Non-Binary Identities
• Advocate: American LGBT-interest magazine
• GSA Network: Training youth leaders, supports youth organizing, and builds the GSA movement
• COLAGE: People with one or more LGBTQIA+ parent or caregiver
• Human Rights Campaign: Advocating for LGBTQIA civil rights
• It Gets Better Project: Inspiring people across the globe to share their stories for the next generation of LGBTQ+ youth

For more information and resources for LGBTQIA Teens, please click here.