BEHAVIORAL & MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

“Our services are in demand and our links to the community are getting stronger.”

Strengthening and extending partnerships, improving existing services and responding to a wide range of community needs were among the highlights in Behavioral and Mental Health Services (BMHS) in 2001. “The agenda is full today which means our services are in demand and our links to the community are getting stronger,” said David Christiansen, Director of Behavioral and Mental Health Services. “ We have much to do today and well into 2002. Many changes are on the horizon and we look forward to more extensive collaboration.” The community took an important step toward solving a significant problem. The DuPage County Health Department was awarded a grant from the Central DuPage Health Community Reinvestment Program to work on untreated depression, a primary focal point for improving health. BMHS formed the Partnership for Behavioral Health with community providers. “BMHS also took many steps to improve intake procedures, medication distribution, billing, staff competency and training.” We responded with counseling assistance to the September 11 attack on America. “We worked with DuPage County residents and three of our counselors served in New York as part of the federal government’s coordinated national response to the emergency,” Christiansen confirmed. “Next year promises to be busy. The Health Department is part of a team planning to provide community services in mental health due to the impending closure of the hospital in Elgin. We look forward to much change.”

There are many myths surrounding mental illness. The goal of the calendar, created by Behavioral and Mental Health Services, was to remove some of these misconceptions. People do live productively with mental illness. Their creativity and talents were collected and made available to the community in this well-received calendar. Artists such as Ben, far left, photographed with a friend, attended a reception hosted by the Department.

A six-year-old boy came to the Department because he had difficulty leaving his home and hadn’t been to school in weeks. Neither he nor his mother had slept in three days. He was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. After treatment his symptoms became manageable. Respite services were implemented to give his mother a much-needed break. He is now a Boy Scout, performs in the school band, was voted class president and lives a productive life.

A boy of 12 spoke only to call staff names. A Behavioral and Mental Health counselor worked with him for nearly six months. He never displayed any change. Years later a young man dressed in a Navy uniform visited the counselor to thank him for helping to turn his life around.

A 52-year-old man was homeless, unemployed and had a long history of alcohol dependence when referred to HELP the Health Department’s Homeless Empowerment Liaison Program. He was assisted, monitored, treated, and made the transition to a local halfway house. He said, “(I) never would have had a chance at recovery without the help of the substance abuse team.”

Providing assistance to those with depression is necessary to improve the health of the county. A grant from Central DuPage Health Community Reinvestment Program was an important step toward meeting that goal.

“We worked with county residents and in New York as part of the response to that emergency.”

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