Immediate Crisis Information

If you or a loved one are experiencing mental health-related distress — including thoughts of suicide and depression, anxiety or other panic disorders, substance abuse crisis, danger of physical injury, or any other kind of emotional distress — dial “988” to be connected to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, available 24/7.

The DuPage County Health Department offers a wide variety of mental health resources, including 24/7 urgent crisis lines and other mental health assistance lines, including specific crisis lines for veterans and the LGBTQA+ community. Individuals in need can review all of the available resources in order to get in touch with the appropriate support team that can best help you or a loved one with their mental health needs.

988 Dial Code

“988” is a three-digit dialing code that connects people to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, where compassionate, accessible care and support is available for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress. People can also dial “988” if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

Mental Health Resources

Take a Self-Assessment

Local Mental Health Provider Directory

Mental Health Conditions Overview

Treatment & Services

FAQ

FREE NAMI Resource Guides

Take A Self-Assessment

In partnership with NAMI, Google has launched anxiety, depression, and PTSD self-assessment tools to gauge whether a person may need further assessment by a mental health professional about a potential mental health illness.

For questions about these assessments, or to speak with someone about mental health concerns for yourself or a loved one, please call (630) 752-0066.

Local Mental Health Provider Directory

Many individuals and families who reach out to NAMI DuPage need licensed therapists/counselors to complement our peer-led services. We are happy to provide information about mental health providers in the local area who are available for appointments.

For more information about these providers, please contact Meredith Kober, Director of Programs, at [email protected].

NOTE: NAMI DuPage does not specifically recommend any of these practices; they are paid promotions. We advise potential clients to carefully research and review all potential healthcare providers. If you are a provider interested in being listed on this page, please email [email protected] with your inquiry.

 

Mental Health Conditions

A mental illness is a condition that affects a person’s thinking, feeling, behavior or mood. Mental illness presents itself in a variety of different conditions that can affect your daily life. Learn more about these conditions below, and remember that you are not alone in your struggles!

Treatment & Services

Crisis Services

Complementary Health Approaches

ECT & Other Brain Stimulation Therapies

Medications Overview

Mental Health Professionals

Psychosocial Treatments

Psychotherapy

Treatment Settings

FAQ

What is mental illness?
A mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are brain disorders that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life. No one is at fault for mental illnesses, although certain life experiences may exacerbate an underlying disorder not previously recognized.

Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion or income. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character, or poor upbringing. Most people diagnosed with a serious mental illness can succeed in life with an individualized treatment plan and live in recovery.

Serious mental illnesses include but are not limited to: major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, several anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and borderline personality disorders.

How are mental illnesses formally diagnosed?
Mental health professionals can perform diagnoses by use of tests, observations of patients during face-to-face interactions, social histories with families, and symptoms described by the patient. Health care professionals use a standardized coding/naming system to describe the many types of mental illnesses.
What should I do if my loved one is experiencing a crisis?
Contact 9-1-1 or the DuPage County Crisis Line at (630) 627-1700 if your loved one is:

  • In danger of physical injury
  • Out of control
  • Talking about suicide
  • Posing a threat to the safety of other persons

Consult ahead of time with a mental health professional or with the DuPage County Health Department (Access and Crisis Center 630-627-1700), so that you know how to obtain services when you need them.

What if my loved one needs hospitalization but won’t agree to it?

If at all possible, voluntary hospitalization is always better. However, the reasoning ability of a person with a mental illness in crisis is often impaired, and it is not always possible to convince him or her of the need for inpatient treatment; therefore, involuntary hospitalization may become necessary.

Visit the Treatment Advocacy Center for more information about Illinois treatment laws.

Who can prescribe medications?
Although counselors, social workers, and clinical psychologists (e.g., PsyD or PhD) are all resources for a person having a mental illness, until very recently only physicians (M.D.), preferably a psychiatrist, were authorized to prescribe medications. Now, due to recent legislation, in some cases a psychologist after extended training will be able to prescribe medications.

Psychiatrists often prescribe patient-specific combinations of medications based on the symptoms and changes of symptoms. Each person responds differently to the various medications available for illnesses with similar symptoms.

While some medications affect symptoms in a few days, others require continuous dosage for four to six weeks before evaluation of their effectiveness can be validly determined. It is necessary to continue taking the medications, even though symptoms have improved.

How can I find a psychiatrist?

A psychiatrist is a medical physician who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illnesses, including substance abuse and addiction. While NAMI DuPage does not provide referrals to psychiatrists, please see the Local Mental Health Provider Directory for information.

Most major hospitals include a “Find a Doctor” feature on their website, where you can select “psychiatry” or “psychiatrist” from a list. The most useful “Find a Doctor” web tools:

  1. allow you to enter an illness if you already have a diagnosis (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, panic attacks)
  2. provide biographical and experience information about the physicians identified by the search process, and
  3. provide a list of the types of mental illnesses in which the physicians specialize.
Which local hospitals and/or mental health providers are available in DuPage county?

Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital
Telephone: (630) 933-4000
Website: http://www.nm.org/westbh

Elmhurst Memorial Hospital
Telephone: 331-221-1000
Website: http://www.emhc.org/contact-emhc/

Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital
Telephone: 630-275-5900
Website: http://www.advocatehealth.com/gsam/

Linden Oaks at Edwards
Telephone: 630-305-5500
Website: http://www.edward.org/lindenoaks

Visit our Local Mental Health Directory for more information

How can I find legal assistance related to mental illness?
NAMI national has a “NAMI Legal Center” that provides lawyer referrals as a service to both members and the general public. NAMI requires attorneys on the Lawyer Referral Panel to complete questionnaires regarding their specialties, fees, education and liability insurance. Communications to the center remain confidential, as does our attorney information.

NAMI does not verify qualifications or credentials of attorneys on the panel, and supplement our listings with the Disability Law Directory of the American Bar Association, the Directory of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, the National Legal Aid and Defender Association Directory and the Directory of Local Pro Bono Programs.

Illinois-specific legal information and referral resources include Illinois Legal Aid, and the DuPage County Legal Aid Service sponsored by the DuPage County Bar Association.

FREE NAMI Resource Guides

Navigating a Mental Health Crisis

Navigating a Mental Health Crisis: A NAMI Resource Guide for Those Experiencing a Mental Health Emergency (Crisis Guide) provides important, potentially life-saving information for people experiencing mental health crises and their loved ones. This guide outlines what can contribute to a crisis, warning signs that a crisis is emerging, strategies to help de-escalate a crisis, available resources and so much more.

Warning Signs of Suicide

Warning Signs of Crisis

Preparing For a Crisis