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Mental Health Awareness Month 2019: Helping a Struggling Teen

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Together LBH Celebrates 1 Year of Service

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3 Things Parents Need to Know Regarding Teen Suicide

Join Lake Behavioral Hospital for the 6th Annual Walk for Awareness & Suicide Prevention

Lake County Suicide Prevention Task Force is hosting Lake County’s 6th Annual Walk for Suicide Prevention and Awareness on Saturday, October 6th from 9 am to 1 pm, at Hastings Lake Forest Preserve. Speakers, refreshments, resource table, raffle, and canine demonstration will be included. Check-in 9 am at Shelter A to pick up your t-shirt. Rain or shine!

Understanding Possible Suicide Warning Signs on Social Media

September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. Lake Behavioral Hospital is an ally to those who are suffering from mental health disorders. Lake Behavioral Hospital is actively seeking to help those who are looking for depression treatment and ensuring they receive the care needed to overcome this temporary mental illness.  

 

“How are social media & suicide connected?”

Suicide rates for teens rose between 2010 and 2015 after they had declined for nearly two decades, according to data from the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While the study doesn’t answer the question, there is a logical connection to social media that can be made. Recent teen suicides have been blamed on cyberbullying, and social media posts depicting “perfect” lives may be taking a toll on teens’ mental health, researchers say.

Because of this. our focus turns to social media, and how to recognize potential suicide warning signs from someone who is in need of mental health care.

“What if someone is posting suicidal messages on social media?”

 

Knowing how to get help for a friend posting suicidal messages on social media can save a life. Many social media sites have a process to report suicidal content and provide mental health resources for the person posting the message. In addition, many of the social media sites use their analytic capabilities to identify and help report suicidal posts. Each offers different options on how to respond if you see concerning posts about suicide. For example:

 

  • Facebook has multiple suicide prevention & awareness pages dedicated to helping those showing suicide warning signs.
  • Instagram uses automated tools in the app to provide mental health resources for teens and adults that are suffering from suicidal thoughts.
  • Snapchat implements a similar functionality, providing its users’ multiple mental health care help pages focusing on suicide prevention & awareness.
  • Tumblr provides its users with free and confidential counseling mental health hotline numbers they can call in a mental health emergency.
  • Twitter has an informative and insightful page regarding mental health and how to recognize the signs of someone experiencing suicidal thoughts.
  • YouTube’s Safety Center has a forum that not only provides mental health resources written by Google but by the YouTube community as well.

 

If you see messages or live streaming suicidal behavior on social media, call 911 or contact the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1–800–273–TALK (8255), or text the Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741) available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Deaf and hard-of-hearing

individuals can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1–800–799–4889. All calls are confidential. This service is available to everyone. People—even strangers—have saved lives by being vigilant.”

 

Lake Behavioral Hospital is a proponent for Suicide Awareness and Prevention.  We have the resources to help you or a loved one who is suffering.  If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call today to speak with a licensed clinician at (855) 990-1900.

 

 

Remember, “You are not alone. It is not your fault. You matter.”

Suicide Warning Signs: What to Recognize

The month of September is nationally recognized as Suicide Awareness Month. Lake Behavioral Hosptial wants to take the initiative and become an ally to those who are experiencing suicidal thought or perhaps are feeling suicidal. This is not an issue that only impacts specific demographics, which makes identifying suicide warning signs sometimes challenging to identify.

While there is no single cause for suicidal thoughts, they often occur when increased stressors create an experience of hopelessness. Suicide warning signs can also include mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. These factors increase the risk of suicide; especially when untreated. If someone is experiencing these suicide warning signs, they should seek immediate assistance from a mental health counselor.

  • Threats or comments about killing themselves
  • Expressing being a burden to others
  • Feeling hopeless
  • Talking/Writing about death
  • Searching for methods
  • Increased substance abuse
  • Social withdrawal from friends, family, and community
  • Dramatic Mood Swings
  • Loss of interest
  • Impulsive or reckless behavior
  • Sleeping too much or too little
  • Giving away possessions
  • Calling/Visiting to say goodbye

These are just a small handful of suicide warning signs to be aware of.

If you observe one or more of these suicide warning signs, especially if the behavior is new, has increased, or seems related to a painful event, loss, or change, step in or speak up.

For your convenience, we’ve attached a downloadable pocket reference card provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA for short.

Lake Behavioral Hospital is a proponent for Suicide Awareness & Prevention. We have the mental health resources to help you or a loved one who is suffering from suicidal thoughts or other mental health disorders. If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal, call today to speak with a mental health counselor at (855) 990-1900.

Remember, “You are not alone” It is not your fault. You matter.”

Speak Up: Suicide Prevention and Awareness

Suicide Prevention and Awareness

September is Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month, providing us with the time to come together to address this difficult topic. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, with 44,965 Americans dying by suicide each year and 123 suicides per day. However, the stigma surrounding mental health leads to underreporting, which is why it is so important to increase awareness surrounding this issue. Mental health conditions and suicidal thoughts can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or background and suicide is often a result of an untreated mental health condition.  At Lake Behavioral Hospital we feel that by coming together and having honest conversations surrounding mental health and suicide we can continue to work towards real change.

To discover your local chapter of AFPS, please visit https://afsp.org/our-work/chapters/.

Lake Behavioral Hospital is a proponent for Suicide Awareness and Prevention.  We have the resources to help you or a loved one who is suffering.  If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call to speak with a licensed clinician at (855) 990-1900.

Remember, “You are not alone. It is not your fault. You matter.”

Join Lake Behavioral Hospital in Our Discussion About Navigating Complex Healthcare Systems

“What a great opportunity to learn about navigating our complex health care system on Thursday, September 27, at noon, which includes a wonderful chef-prepared lunch. Please RSVP to The Sheridan at Green Oaks.”

The link to registration is an email – [email protected]

US HealthVest Acquires Vista Medical Center West

Innovative Behavioral Health Services Provider Strengthens Chicago Presence

Waukegan, IL, March 1, 2018 – US HealthVest announced the acquisition of Vista Medical Center West from Quorum Health Corporation (NYSE:  QHC).  Located in Waukegan, Illinois, Vista Medical Center West, previously Provena Saint Therese Medical Center, has provided behavioral health services to the community for over 50 years.

The hospital will be renamed Lake Behavioral Hospital and carries a certificate of need for 46 inpatient psychiatric beds.  In response to the urgent need for psychiatric services, US Healthvest has been granted a certificate of need to add 100 inpatient psychiatric beds to the campus.  US HealthVest will transform the medical office building on campus into a new 146-bed psychiatric hospital that will offer a full continuum of care to patients of all ages.

“As a leading provider of behavioral health services in Chicago, we look forward to strengthening our existing presence,” said Richard Kresch, M.D., President and CEO of US HealthVest. “This key acquisition gives us the opportunity to expand specialized behavioral health service offerings to all patients, regardless of ability to pay.”

Located in the heart of Waukegan, Lake Behavioral Hospital will continue to provide behavioral health services to patients during the construction of the new hospital. Comprehensive services will include free 24/7 assessments, inpatient and intensive outpatient care. The new hospital project has gained widespread public support. Lake County and surrounding areas are experiencing a severe shortage of behavioral services, forcing many patients to leave the area for treatment.

US HealthVest will invest over $30 million to transform the medical office building into a new 88,000 square foot, 146-bed psychiatric hospital.  The hospital will be designed to provide open spaces with daylight, enabling for a safe and therapeutic environment.  Shared amenities include activity rooms, therapy spaces and a dining area, along with recreational activity spaces.  The hospital, expected to open in the fall of 2019, will create over 150 additional jobs and revitalize the surrounding Waukegan area.

Chicago is a core market for US HealthVest. US HealthVest operates Chicago Behavioral Hospital, a 138-bed psychiatric hospital in Des Plaines, and is developing Silver Oaks Behavioral Hospital, a 100-bed psychiatric hospital, in a joint venture with Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.  The Vista Medical Center West acquisition allows US HealthVest to strengthen its position in the Chicago market by offering comprehensive service offerings and solidifying relationships with payers and providers.

About US HealthVest

US HealthVest is a leading provider of behavioral healthcare services. US HealthVest operates Chicago Behavioral Hospital, Lake Behavioral Hospital, Smokey Point Behavioral Hospital, Ridgeview Institute-Smyrna, Ridgeview Institute – Monroe and is developing additional psychiatric hospitals across the country. Accredited by The Joint Commission, US HealthVest’s hospitals provide specialized psychiatric care to patients with a full range of inpatient and outpatient services for children, adolescents, adults and senior adults. US HealthVest was founded in 2013 by Dr. Richard Kresch, formerly Founder & CEO of Ascend Health Corporation and Heartland Health Developments. For more information, please visit www.ushealthvest.com.

Contact:

US HealthVest

Richard Kresch, M.D.

President and Chief Executive Officer

212-243-5565