Lake Behavioral Celebrates Pride

June is Pride Month and Lake Behavioral Hospital is proud to celebrate and support the LGBTQ community. We also understand the unique challenges and needs they face related to mental health and access to treatment. Studies show that individuals who identify as LGBTQ are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and other mental health conditions. LGBTQ individuals also experience more trauma and other impactful adverse life experiences due to stigma and discrimination, which can trigger or exacerbate mental health conditions.

Stigma can create conditions under which LGBTQ-identifying people need to seek mental health care. It can also hinder their ability to access the care and treatment they need. Surveys indicate that more than half of LGBTQ respondents have experienced healthcare providers denying care, using harsh language, or blaming their sexual orientation or gender identity as the cause for an illness. As a result, many individuals avoid or delay seeking treatment and withhold information from health care providers due to fear of discrimination or disrespect.

Our team at Lake Behavioral Hospital knows that when people can be themselves, believe in themselves, and be proud of who they are that they are genuinely more mentally healthy. We can only influence health if we continue to educate ourselves and be sensitive to the individual needs of the people we serve. Every day our treatment team seeks to help and serve those on their journey to self-acceptance and self-pride.

Lake Behavioral Hospital is an inclusive environment. During Pride Month, we want to say thank you to those within the LGBTQ community who pave the way every day. You have shown pride as you have made it clear that it is the strength of our character, the way we treat others, and our sense of hope that is the foundation for authenticity.

Lake Behavioral Hospital offers support on both an inpatient and outpatient setting for adolescents, adults, and senior adults.

Free assessments are offered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 855-990-1900.

New Lake Behavioral Hospital Now Open

Waukegan Mayor Tours Brand New Lake Behavioral Hospital

When Mother’s Day is Difficult

Holidays are often filled with joy and love, but they can also be challenging. Mother’s Day can be a particularly complicated holiday. For many it a celebration of gratitude and appreciation, but it can also bring feelings of grief and sadness, especially for those who have lost a mother or a child.

During this time of physical distancing due to COVID-19, the grief of losing a mother or child can be compounded by feeling isolated from social supports and being unable to utilize coping strategies that involve being in public spaces.

Here are some tips on how to cope with grief on Mother’s Day:

  • Share memories, or engage in an activity or tradition that honors the person you lost.
  • Reach out to supportive people. Call, text, or schedule a video chat.
  • Write about your feelings, or write a letter to the person you lost.
  • Acknowledge and honor your feelings. Pain is personal and everyone has their own way of grieving.

Holidays can trigger symptoms of depression, anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Lake Behavioral Hospital offers a full continuum of care for the treatment of mental health conditions. With the expansion of our physical space, Lake Behavioral Hospital is now able to offer new modalities and treatment tracks to meet the needs of our community. These additional services will include an individualized trauma-focused treatment track for women.

If someone you know is grieving a loss, it is important to check on them, even if it’s just to say hello. With the increase in deaths due to COVID-19, people are experiencing loss collectively worldwide. It is helpful to know that we are not alone in our grief and anxiety.

If you or someone you care about is experiencing mental health challenges during this time, Lake Behavioral Hospital can help. Call us at 855-990-1900.

Opening Day is Fast Approaching

Teens & the Reality of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has been emotionally devastating for adults, but the full impact on teenagers may be worse.

Today’s adolescents have their fair share of challenges—navigating social media, online bullying, social pressures to partake in drugs and alcohol. All of these are enhanced by the enforced social isolation and cancellation of in person school.

Teens have lost their social outlets and support systems outside of their immediate families. School sports, prom, and traditional graduation ceremonies have been cancelled. They may find coping with this sudden loss difficult, because they will never get to do those things. School may have also been a safe space for an adolescent or teen with an unstable home life.

Teenagers and young adults have developmental motivations that make them hard to isolate at home. The physical and chemical changes that take place during this time make young people highly attuned to social status and peer group.

Schools have rushed to implement online learning with varying degrees of success. Teens now find themselves with a lot of down time. Without hours and hours of daily structure, teens are left to fill virtually the entire day alone. Technology provides a temporary respite, but may not be a long-term solution.

Parents should set aside time to truly listen to their children’s frustrations. Showing empathy and validating their feelings will help teens cope. Parents should ask how they can support them through this time.

When these feelings and emotions disrupt your teen’s ability to complete schoolwork or assigned responsibilities at home, it may be time to seek additional help.

Lake Behavioral Hospital specializes in adolescent mental health treatment. No cost assessments are offered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A licensed mental health professional will recommend the right treatment for your teen, whether it’s an inpatient stay or outpatient program.

Call today for more information: (855) 990-1900

Social Isolation & COVID-19

The mental health effects of COVID-19 are just as important to address as are the physical health effects. For many, adjusting to a new way of life can be overwhelming and difficult. This is especially true for those individuals who have a mental health condition or those at risk for developing one.

It is important to adhere to the safety guidelines established by the CDC and local health officials. Social distancing can aggravate mental health symptoms, but social distancing does not have to mean social isolation. Lake Behavioral Hospital has solutions for those needing assistance.

Lake Behavioral uses evidence-based treatment models that are designed to provide treatment with lasting results. The coping mechanisms and education provided by our licensed mental health team can be utilized in these stressful situations to manage your mental health.

Our hospital provides mental health treatment for adolescents, adults, and senior adults in either an outpatient or inpatient setting.

Signs and symptoms to look for:

  • Increased anxiety or depression
  • Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
  • Outbursts of anger
  • Worsening of existing medical conditions
  • Changes in sleeping patterns
  • Difficulty concentrating or completing tasks

If you or a loved one are experiencing any of the above symptoms please call Lake Behavioral.

We offer no cost mental health assessments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These can be done in person or via telehealth. Call today: 855-990-1900.

Lake Behavioral Hospital takes the health and safety of our patients, their families, and our staff very seriously. We have implemented the guidelines established by the CDC and local health officials to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our hospital. Rest assured, your safety is our number one priority.

Lake Behavioral Hospital, Providing Mental Health Treatment for Wisconsin

Located just 10 miles of the border in Waukegan, IL, Lake Behavioral Hospital is prepared to meet the mental health needs of Wisconsin. Lake Behavioral provides inpatient and outpatient treatment for mental health and chemical dependency for adolescents, adults, and older adults.

Accessibility to mental health and chemical dependency treatment among all age groups is a growing concern in Wisconsin.

  • About 55,000 adolescents aged 12-17 had at least one major mental health event in the past year with less than 30% receiving treatment.
  • About 170,000 adults had serious thoughts of suicide in the last year and about 180,000 were diagnosed with a serious mental illness. Less than 40% received treatment.
  • About 377,000 adults reported heavy alcohol use in the last year with less than 6% receiving treatment.

Lake Behavioral Hospital understands the difficulty associated with seeking treatment for mental health conditions and chemical dependency. Our caring team of licensed mental health professionals, psychiatrists, nurses, and staff are prepared to address these concerns.

As a community service, Lake Behavioral Hospital offers no-cost mental health assessments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Mental health assessments are also offered via Telehealth. A licensed clinician will offer treatment recommendations that are tailored to the individual needs of families and their loved ones.

Located in Waukegan, IL, Lake Behavioral Hospital is the premiere provider of mental health and chemical dependency treatment in northern Illinois. Utilizing evidence-based treatment models, Lake Behavioral Hospital can help individuals make lasting change to their lives. Lake Behavioral Hospital accepts most major insurance, including Medicaid and Medicare.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 855-990-1900.

 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Behavioral Health Barometer: Wisconsin, 2015. HHS Publication No. SMA–16–Baro–2015–WI. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2015

COVID-19 and Mental Health