Crisis Help & Resources for Families
Suicide Prevention (988)
Sometimes, things can feel overwhelming, and it's important to ask for help. The following are some resources for anyone who needs assistance.
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Suicide & Crisis Lifeline • Call or Text 988
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Linea de prevención del suicido y crisis • Llama o envía un mensaje al 988 (y presione 2 para español)
The Lifeline is available for everyone. It is free and confidential. For anyone who is thinking about suicide, who is worried about a friend or loved one, or who would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States.
Information is also available at https://988lifeline.org. 988lifeline.org
Crisis Assistance & McHenry County Mental Health Board
The McHenry County Mental Health Board provides quality behavioral health (mental health and substance use disorder) and intellectual/developmental disability prevention and treatment services for all people of McHenry County, Illinois.
For help, call the crisis line (988), or visit the Mental Health Board site at www.mc708.org. www.MC708.org
In addition, McHelp is a free anonymous app that allows users to confidentially text or talk to a licensed mental health counselor. Trained counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For information about the app, visit https://www.mc708.org/mchelp-
Illinois Dept of Human Services (211)
211 is available on a 24-hour basis to connect residents to a wide variety of human services or social services across the state.
Callers to 211 can get LIVE assistance with needs such as: food, shelter, counseling, income supports, employment, healthcare, and services for specialized populations such as the elderly and persons with disabilities and much more. All calls are free, anonymous and confidential.
Community Resource Directory
The People in Need Forum is sponsored by McHenry County College Center for Non-Profit Leadership and includes more than 20 other supporting organizations who have given staff time and materials. Each year, the Forum publishes a directory list of resources available to McHenry County residents on a very wide variety of topics. The resource directory is posted below, in both English and Spanish; use the following links to download.
Additional Resources for Families in McHenry County
Erin's Law
Public Act 97-1147, known as Erin’s Law, requires Illinois school districts to add age-appropriate sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention education to the health curriculum for students, as well as in-service training for school personnel. The purpose of Erin’s Law is to equip children with awareness of sexual abuse so that they report abuse and, ultimately, to reduce victimization.
Additional information and resources are available at www.erinslaw.org. erinslaw.org