Contributed photo
Contributed photo
Recently issued the following announcement.
Friends & Lake County Residents,
August has been a difficult month in our county and in our world. While we honor the sacrifice of US soldiers and mourn the loss of innocent civilians in Afghanistan, we must also do all we can to stay vigilant against a pandemic that remains dangerous for so many.
Aside from the direct threat from the COVID-19 virus, the pandemic has exacerbated the suffering of those who have mental illness and substance abuse disorder.
Locally, our office has been working to increase awareness about mental health and substance abuse problems in Lake County. Some of those efforts are described in this issue of Justice for All.
Generally, let me say that helping the mentally ill and those suffering from substance abuse is a top priority of the office. In my role as State’s Attorney, I have submitted funding requests in my first budget to expand our Mental Health Court and Drug Court programs.
Earlier this month, we expanded the ongoing fight to get more treatment to the mentally ill by expanding a new stabilization center called the Living Room Wellness Center. You can read more about this important program below.
In this edition, we are also highlighting the never-ending work of the Lake County Suicide Prevention Task Force. Our office is proud to partner with them as we attempt to curb Lake County’s suicide rate. According to the annual reports of the Lake County Coroner’s Office, the number of suicides in Lake County in 2020 was the highest it has been in at least the last four years. I hope all of you will take the time to learn about the suicide prevention efforts that we describe here.
Finally, I hope everyone will take a moment to reflect on International Overdose Awareness Day which is August 31, 2021. The details of our local event are below. Our office is honored to stand with the Lake County Opioid Initiative, Live 4 Lali, and the Northern Illinois Recovery Community Organization in remembering those we have lost to this heartbreaking and catastrophic overdose epidemic.
Yours,
More than 100 elected officials, Independence Center Staff, law enforcement officers, and mental health professionals participated in the program’s grand re-opening and expansion on August 19.
The new program, called the “Living Room Wellness Center” (LRWC), will provide professional services to those who come into contact with law enforcement while experiencing a mental health crisis.
It is an expansion of the Independence Center’s Living Room program, a voluntary walk-in program for community residents which opened in August of 2020.
Police officers will now be able to use their discretion to bring non-violent offenders to the counselors and medical professionals at the LRWC as opposed to a jail or an emergency room.
State’s Attorney’s Office employee Sandra Bankston will be Justice Manager of the program, engaging with officers to provide roll call training and working with LRWC staff to ensure smooth drop offs of those experiencing crisis.
The design of the LRWC will allow for counselors and licensed therapists to assess acute mental health problems and then connect those in need with longer-term treatment or allow the individual to stabilize in the center before returning to their home. The LRWC will provide a stress-free environment where residents can even shower and eat.
Those LRWC clients who do need longer-term services will even be transported by the staff to their next program.
The LRWC’s opening arose from the collaboration of the Sheriff’s Office, the Independence Center, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the generous donations of the MacArthur Foundation, the Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County, and an anonymous funder.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart said, “This achievement is critical to the well-being and safety of Lake County residents. Chair Hart, Vice Chair Cunningham, Sheriff Idleburg, and the donors have showed amazing leadership and wisdom in setting this plan into motion. This Center will protect the community and satisfy our moral duty to treat those in need.”
The LRWC could not be coming at a better time as Rinehart noted that the Center for Disease Control has reported a 36-percent increase in demand for mental health services since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Studies also indicate that suicidal ideation doubled since 2018.
Noting that green was the color of Mental Health awareness month as well as the color of stability, Rinehart stated “this Wellness Center must be – something that brings calm and stability to the individual and long-term safety to the community,” the State’s Attorney said.
The August 19 ceremony included tours of the existing facilities which are ready to serve clients as police departments and prosecutors develop their eligibility and operational protocols in September. The current space includes offices, showers, washer & dryer facilities, meeting rooms, and a large living room area with new furniture, artwork, and other amenities.
Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart, center, with State's Attorney's Office Therapist and Justice Manager Sandra Bankston, left, and Wellness Center Coordinator Dr. Fritz Gelin, right.
Members of the Lake County Suicide Prevention Task Force, including the State’s Attorney’s Office, hope the momentum continues for the 9th Annual Walk for Suicide Prevention and Awareness. This year’s walk, which will again be a virtual event, is planned for Saturday, Sept. 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“We noticed more involvement. The pandemic is helping the community to be more aware of mental health and be informed about how to prevent suicide,” said Health Educator Sandra Gomez of the Lake County Health Department. “In 2019, we had 135 people attending the walk. Last year was virtual and we had more people, 155. We are expecting to have even more people for this year.”
Gomez said she hopes for at least 200 participants this year, and noted that holding the event online has the advantage of eliminating distance from the walk as a factor.
“Last year we had a community from one country in Central America join the walk. The virtual walk helps expand the communication and facilitates connection with people connected to this cause,” Gomez said.
“We do miss the energy and connection of being a large group gathering together, but safety is the priority. We hope to be back in person in 2022,” she said.
With Covid-19 cases again on the rise, so is uncertainty and stress for many people.
Officials say that makes it more important than ever to work toward removing the stigma of mental health issues and suicidal feelings so that more people will seek help and hopefully avoid preventable deaths.
“Every year we expect to reach out more people and engage them to join us in this goal of prevention. We would like to stop the stigma related with mental health and suicide,” Gomez said.
Registration is now open. To register, people should visit endthestigma2021.eventbrite.com.
Registration is $20 for adults and $10 for children 13 and older. Kids 12 and under may participate free.
The registration fee includes an event t-shirt and resource fair bag, with local resources from throughout Lake County. If you are unable to walk or would like to donate to the event, donation tickets will be available for purchase.
Walk organizers will host a t-shirt event on Saturday, Sept. 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lake County Health Department, 3010 Grand Ave, Waukegan, for participants to drive through and pick up their walk shirts and resource bags. Officials will be able to take drive-up registrations on that day, as well.
This year’s theme is “Surviving and Thriving.”
With the contribution of online speakers, the event will be virtual from Monday, Sept. 13 through Friday, Sept. 17. Then on Saturday, Sept. 18, an in-person event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Round Lake Beach Civic Center, 2007 N. Civic Way. This event will include a resource fair, a live panel with speakers from throughout the conference week and some free party favors.
Pre-registration is required for the in-person portion of the conference and masks will be required. Participants may register for the in-person event at https//19thcircuitcourt.state.il.us/1230/Girl-Wise-Conference.
This site also has further information on the Girl-Wise program, registration, and a link to the virtual videos for the days leading up to the in-person event.
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