After four hours of virtual training on Friday, Jan. 22, Evanston residents became certified Mental Health First Aid responders. The training, based on Mental Health First Aid USA
, was the first of three free sessions available to the public throughout January and February and hosted by the Josselyn Center, a community mental health clinic
.
Susan Resko, CEO of the Josselyn Center, along with coworkers Maggie Nash and Becky Schulman hope the course will give Evanston residents and members of the NorthShore University HealthSystem the skills to have open conversations about mental health.
“It’s a first step in destigmatizing and starting that conversation,” Nash said. “When you give and provide the tools for people, they want to talk about it and have that space.”
A battle that doesn t end: The pandemic s effect on health care workers Nurse Samantha Mull, who works in the intensive care unit at Elmhurst Hospital, says the last 10 months have been emotionally and mentally draining. I feel like there s still no end in sight, she says. Courtesy of Samantha Mull
Rachel Henry, who works in the physician treatment center at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, greets therapy dog Shelby on her way into the hospital. Shelby, 9, is occasionally stationed at Northwestern Medicine facilities to ease stress and put a smile on employees faces during the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said.
Highland Park foundation distributes $512,550 in grants Back row, from left, James Lynch of The Art Center Highland Park, Greg Diethrich of Midwest Young Artists, Amy Kaufman of Community Partners for Affordable Housing, Susan Trieschmann of Curt s Cafe and Gail Hodges of Family Service of Lake County; third row: Robbie Boudreau of Southeast Lake County Faith in Action Volunteers, Pam Feinberg of the Tri-Con Child Care Center, HPCF board member Jon Levey and Jennifer Phillips of Keshet; second row: HPCF board member Jean Meadows, Alicia De La Cruz of Working Together and Lisa Adelmund of Highland Park Community Early Learning Center; front row: HPCF Chairman David Reich, board member Tom Koulentes and Bobbie Hinden of Family Focus Highland Park.