Where To Find Help With Grief, Mental Health in Response Aurora’s Mass Shooting
The Kane County Health Department and Kane County Behavioral Health Council are promoting a resource directory that can be invaluable to people who are coping with grief and loss after an act of senseless violence or hoping to prevent such tragedies by providing counseling for anxiety, depression, anger management, frustration and an entire spectrum of negative human emotions.
“In response to the recent tragedy in Aurora, the community is coming together to grieve and to cope with life,” Kane County Health Department Executive Director Barb Jeffers said. “Victims and their families are quietly receiving the direct services they need. But it is important to realize that the entire community may need help to recover from this moment in the national spotlight.”
In the Aurora area, there are many qualified counselors, therapists and community organizations who have dedicated their existence to improving the quality of life for members of the Aurora area community. Resources are available for counseling for individuals and groups.
The Kane County Behavioral Health Council has developed a resource directory for behavioral health services available in Kane County. This directory can be found at: http://www.wesupportmentalhealth.org/services-directory/
The following are just some of the resources available in Kane County:
AMITA Health Referral Line
The Behavioral Health Services Department at Amita Mercy Medical Center has launched a resource and referral center that will help connect members of our community with valuable behavioral health and related services.
Qualified behavioral health professionals staff the resource and referral center five days a week, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. Callers with behavioral health needs will be able to contact the center, speak to a staff member and be directed to the appropriate community resources.
If you or someone you know has unmet needs regarding behavioral health or related issues, you are encouraged to call the Amita Mercy Medical Center Resource and Referral Center at 844-569-5200. Please note that this call center is not intended to replace the advice of a physician.
If you are experiencing a behavioral health crisis, please contact your physician or call 911. Additionally, Amita Health Mercy Medical Center offers free behavioral health assessments through our intake office seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Address: AMITA Health Mercy Medical Center Aurora. 1325 North Highland Ave., Aurora, Illinois 60506.
AMITA Health Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care is available to support those affected by the recent violence in the Aurora community and surrounding areas. Rainbow is available to offer phone support, individual counseling, and grief in the workplace workshops.
211 Information and Referral Hotline
Just as you dial 9-1-1 for emergencies, you can call “2-1-1” in Kane County and be connected to a live specialist, any time of the day or night, to assist you with your human service and resource needs.
Batavia United Way has contracted with PATH, an accredited call center in Bloomington to receive calls 24 hours a day all year.
VNA Health Services
In response to the recent tragedy in Aurora, VNA has established a weekly bilingual support group facilitated by members of our social work/mental and behavioral health team with chaplain support from local partners.
This group will be free and confidential and soup will be served. This group is open to individuals who are hurting whether as a result of this incident or other trauma. Navigation to mental and behavioral health/primary care services will be available as needed.
Ecker Center
Ecker Center services can be accessed by the general public by coming during walk-in intake hours, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Ecker Center also has emergency services, located at Sherman Hospital emergency room, available 24/7. The intake phone number is 847-695-048, Ext. 1891.
Community Crisis Center
Community Crisis Center has a 24/7 professionally-staffed hotline at 847-697-2380.
NAMI-KDK
The following programs would provide needed support.
NAMI KDK’s Family Support Group meets from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the first Saturday of every month at the Batavia Public Library, 10 S. Batavia Ave. The next meeting is March 2.
NAMI KDK’s Connection Support Group for individuals living with a mental health condition will meet from noon to 1:30 p.m. March 13 at 400 Mercy Lane in Aurora. NAMI KDK’s help line is available for those in need of local mental health resources 630-896-6264.
NAMI KDK | Kane-south, DeKalb, and Kendall Counties hours are 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and by appointment Friday.
Contact: 400 Mercy Lane, Aurora IL 60506 | 630.896.6264 executivedirector@namikdk.org
TriCity Family Services
TCFS will be available for the public should anyone need to speak with someone or access additional supports. Anyone interested should contact TriCity Family Services at 630-232-1070 and ask for the Intake Coordinator.
The TCFS front desk staff and coordinator will be aware that these calls may be coming in and will help set up whatever services are needed, whether that be a one-time crisis appointment or continued counseling services.
Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care
- Main Office: 1550 Bishop Court, Mount Prospect, IL 60056
- Office: 847-653-3242
- Fax: 847-294-9613
- JMagariel@RainbowHospice.org
- https://rainbowhospice.org/
Senior Services Associates
Services available to caregivers of seniors age 60 or older. If any of those Kane County caregivers need to discuss the issues they are confronting they can contact Debbie Miller at the Aurora Senior Services Associates Office at 630-897-4035.
More Information
More information about the Kane County Behavioral Health Council and additional services is available at www.wesupportmentalhealth.org/
For general information relative to services, contact Barbara Jeffers, MPH, Executive Director, Kane County Health Department, 630-444-3124.
