Resources

IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING A MEDICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL 911 OR YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY SERVICES IMMEDIATELY! 

You can also contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, they are available 24 hours a day. Remember that you or your loved one is never alone and help is available to you at all times!

National Domestic Violence Hotline/Línea Nacional Sobre la Violencia Doméstica:
1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

WINGS Safe Houses provide adult and child victims with life-saving services.

For emergency shelter and crisis assistance call:
(847) 221-5680

For housing and other issues call:
(847) 519-7828

Did you know that domestic violence is a behavior used to establish power and control over another person? Verbal, mental, sexual and physical abuse are forms that domestic violence can take.
Domestic violence is a crime which crosses ethnic, racial, age, sexual orientation, religious and socioeconomic boundaries.

Domestic violence is not your fault!

Safety is extremely important to remember when fleeing an abusive situation. Below are tips to help you or a loved one plan accordingly:

• Think of a safe place to go if an argument occurs. Avoid rooms with no exits or rooms with weapons.
• If you feel the abuser is following you, go to a police department or public place for safety.
• Keep change or a cell phone with you at all times.
• Think about and make a list of safe people to contact. Memorize their numbers or take an address book with you.
• If you have an order of protection, carry it with you at all times.
• Establish a “code word or sign” so that family, friends, teachers, or co-workers know when to call for help.
• Keep a bag packed with important papers (copies of your driver’s license, divorce decree, mortgage papers, etc.), fresh clothes, and medications. Keep it in a safe place like your car or a family member’s home.
• Think about what you will say to your partner if he/she becomes violent.

Contact Information
877-SAMHSA-7 (726-4727)
TTY: 800-487-4889

There is no single cause of depression. We can’t blame this on ourselves or others. To experience depression, most people need to have risk factors in place – things that make us vulnerable to mental illness or mood disorders. Some of these risk factors include:

• Past history of trauma
• A volatile upbringing
• A stressful lifestyle
• The death of a loved one
• A history of health problems
• Poor nutrition
• Substance or alcohol use
• History of abuse
• And more

We don’t know what causes some people to experience depression over others, but we do know that our history plays a role. Who we’ve dated, what trauma we’ve experienced, or what our health has been like can contribute to the development of depression. In some people, depression is more likely simply because of their personality type.

Thinking about why depression happens or what risk factors we possess can be a slippery slope. We might feel the need to assign blame or we might criticize ourselves for past choices. This isn’t productive when we’re experiencing the ebbs and flows of depression. The focus should be on how we can reclaim our lives and manage depression by identifying our triggers. 

If you are experiencing any of these depressive symptoms, please contact us IMMEDIATELY to speak with a licensed counselor.