Mental Health Education
Ending the Silence: Prevention and Education
What do we do?
We teach suicide prevention and mental health education at every public middle school and high school and several private schools in McLean County.
We collaborate with NAMI Mid Central Illinois to provide NAMI Ending the Silence, an evidence-based program designed to teach students how to:
- Practice healthy coping skills
- Recognize early warning signs of mental health challenges
- Reach out to trusted adults for help
- Connect with school and community resources
- Be kind to themselves and their peers.
Get involved
Share Your Story
We need volunteers who have personal experience with mental illness to participate in NAMI Ending the Silence, our teen suicide prevention and mental health education program. If you live with mental illness or you support someone who lives with mental illness, we want to hear your story! Contact Colleen at coconnor@projectoz.org to join the fight to end suicide and show young people that recovery is possible.
What’s the Impact?
We have provided mental health education for over 25,000 students since 2016! We reach approximately 3,000 students each year.
Approximately 300 students reach out for help as a direct result of presentations each year.
Over 90% of students agree:
- “I understand that mental illnesses are common and treatable.”
- “I know the early warning signs of mental illness.”
- “I know how to help myself or a friend if I notice any of these warning signs.”
Students have shared that they feel:
- More comfortable starting conversations about mental health
- More prepared to notice when someone is struggling
- More confident asking for help for themselves and their friends
- More supported, seen, and understood
- More hopeful about the future
Students say:
- “This made me feel like I’m not alone. It made me think that maybe things can get better.”
- “You showed us that we have a voice and that people care.”
- “I decided to talk to my dad because of your presentation. It was hard, but it felt good too. I’m really glad that I told him.”
- “When I shared my experience with someone else, it felt like 100 pounds was just lifted off my heart. It made me feel good about myself.”
- “I learned that no matter how lonely you feel, someone cares about you.”
- “The best part was that you made us feel like we matter.”
Tips and Tools for Parents
You can make a difference by helping your child recognize and cope with mental health challenges.
- Learn the early warning signs for mental health conditions and suicide
- If you notice warning signs, start a conversation, share what you’ve noticed, and let your child know that you care about them and you want to help
- If you need support, reach out to your pediatrician, your child’s school counselor, or another mental health resource
- Learn more by participating in Youth Mental Health First Aid
Download The Mental Health Resource Guides Here:
Warning Signs for Mental Health Challenges
- Feeling very sad or withdrawn for more than two weeks
- Severe, out-of-control risk-taking behaviors that could cause harm to someone
- Sudden, overwhelming fear for no reason, especially with physical symptoms like a racing heart or fast breathing
- Seeing, hearing, or believing things that aren’t real
- Drastic changes in mood, behavior, personality, or sleeping habits
- Extreme difficulty concentrating or staying still, especially if it puts someone in physical danger or makes school more difficult
- Intense worries or fears that impact daily activities
- Significant weight loss, weight gain, throwing up, using laxatives, or restricting eating
- Repeated use of alcohol or other drugs
- Trying or making plans to harm or kill oneself
Warning Signs for Suicide
- Talking, writing, or drawing about death
- Feeling hopeless, helpless, or worthless
- Increased alcohol and drug use
- Destructive risk-taking
- Deepening depression or dramatic mood swings
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
- Aggressive, impulsive, or reckless behavior
- Social withdrawal from friends and family
- Visiting or communicating with people to say goodbye
- Giving away important possessions
Mental Health Resources
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 9-8-8, chat online at 988lifeline.org/chat, or visit 988lifeline.org
This national resource provides support for people who are experiencing a mental health crisis or thinking about suicide and for people who are concerned about someone experiencing a crisis. Available 24/7.
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME or HELLO to 741-741 or visit crisistextline.org
This national resource provides emotional support and assistance via text for people who are struggling with their mental health or any other kind of crisis. Available 24/7.
PATH Crisis Center
Call (309) 828-1022 or visit pathcrisis.org
This local organization provides support and information for people who are looking for resources (such as assistance with basic needs, crisis and mental health services, financial aid, healthcare, support groups, and more). Available 24/7.
The McLean County Center for Human Services
Call 309-827-5351 or visit mcchs.org
This local counseling center offers a variety of mental health services and operates the Crisis Team, which is a team of professionals who provide immediate support to people in crisis. Counseling is available by appointment and the Crisis Team is available 24/7.
The Center for Youth & Family Solutions
Call 309-829-6307 or visit cyfsolutions.org
This local counseling center offers a variety of services and operates SASS, a crisis intervention service for youth. Counseling is available by appointment and SASS is available 24/7 through the CARES line (1-800-345-9049).
Did you know…?
- Mental illness is treatable and recovery is possible!
- Most people who receive treatment can live healthy, productive lives
- 17% of high school students in McLean County reported seriously considering attempting suicide in the last year
- 1 in 5 teens lives with a diagnosable mental illness
- 50% of students age 14 and older with a mental illness drop out of high school
- Half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14
- The average delay between the start of symptoms and intervention is 10 years
- Stigma is the primary reason why young people don’t seek treatment
- Every day, over 5,240 American students in grades 7-12 attempt suicide
- 4 of 5 people who attempt suicide have displayed clear warning signs
- Suicide is the leading cause of death for people in Illinois ages 10-14
- Teen suicide rates have doubled in less than a decade
- Approximately 90% of people who die by suicide experienced an underlying mental illness
- Warning signs typically appear about 2-4 years before a mental health condition becomes serious