Honor National Family Caregivers Month by Caring for Yourself
We’ve developed resources to help you support your mental health, reduce stress and connect with others who understand.
November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the incredible dedication of families caring for children and youth with special healthcare needs.
At the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC), we know that caregiving can be both a rewarding and challenging journey.
As you care for others, it’s just as important to take care of your own mental health.
Find Support in Our Caregiver Mental Health Toolkit
Our Caregiver Mental Health Toolkit can help you find the support and strategies you need to recharge and stay well.
This online resource offers practical tips, self-care strategies and mental health resources to help you navigate the unique demands of caregiving while prioritizing your own health and well-being.
The Caregiver Mental Health Toolkit includes:
- Stress management strategies and techniques to help you cope with tough times.
- Self-care tips and practical ways to nurture your own physical, emotional and mental health.
- Mental health support resources to connect you with professional help and support networks when needed.
- Apps, online tools, videos and podcasts you can access anytime.
We created this toolkit with input from our Family Advisory Council, which shared the importance of mental health support for caregivers like you.
Whether you’re a parent caring for a child, a family member supporting a loved one or anyone in a caregiving role, we encourage you to explore this free resource.
Connect With a Fellow Caregiver for Support
One of the most powerful supports you can have is a connection with another parent who truly understands.
We have a Home Care Family Outreach Associate on our team who understands the unique challenges of caring for a loved one with complex medical conditions firsthand.
Our Home Care Family Outreach Associate works to create a community for caregivers within DSCC and offer heartfelt support, connection and empowerment.
You can ask your DSCC care coordination team to refer you to the HCFOA. You can also email a request to speak with the HCFOA at DSCC-FamilySupport@uic.edu.
Learn more about Erica Stearns, our current HCFOA, on our Home Care Family Outreach page and in the short video below:
Take a Break with Caregiver Coloring Sheets
We’ve also designed four coloring pages to help caregivers relax and take time to relieve stress and practice mindfulness.
There are four designs available in both English and Spanish:
- Lighthouse (Lighthouse in Spanish)
- Sunflowers (Sunflowers in Spanish)
- Hot air balloons (Hot air balloons in Spanish)
- Gears and clock (Gears and clock in Spanish)
These printable pages are a simple way to pause, relax and focus on yourself.
More Mental Health Resources and Support
You can find more mental health resources in our online Resource Directory.
Be sure to also follow our DSCC Facebook page and Instagram page for helpful reminders and tips throughout the rest of the month.
Your DSCC care coordination team is also here to support you. They can listen, help identify your needs and find available services and resources.
As the heart of your child’s care team, we celebrate you this month and always!
New Nationwide Three-Digit Mental Health Crisis Number
Individuals facing mental health crises can call 988 anytime for help and life-saving services
Starting on July 16, a simple three-digit number will connect anyone in the United States to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (also called the Lifeline).
The new 988 dialing code will help people facing mental health crises immediately connect to individuals who are specially trained to respond to such situations. It is available for calls (multiple languages) and text or chat (English only).
The Lifeline is free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Lifeline crisis counselors understand what callers are going through and know what local resources might make a difference. Anyone who needs support for a suicidal, mental health and/or substance use crisis may dial 988.
The new 988 number aims to strengthen efforts to transform crisis care nationwide. It will serve as a universal entry point so that no matter where someone lives, they can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five Americans will have a mental illness in any given year.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that in 2020 the United States had one death by suicide about every 11 minutes. Suicide is also a leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 34 years. Additionally, more than 100,000 individuals died from drug overdoses from April 2020 to 2021.
You can learn more about how 988 works and the support it provides on the 988 Frequently Asked Questions page.
This fact sheet also explains the basics about 988. (You can also see the fact sheet in Spanish.)
The current Lifeline phone number of (800) 273-8255 will remain available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, even after 988 is launched.
Individuals may also continue to text the Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741). Both offer free, confidential help around the clock, 365 days a year.
You can also visit our online Resource Directory for more mental health services and support.
Resources and Tips to Promote Good Mental Health
Helpful tools and resources for individuals of all ages in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
Society often focuses on physical health rather than mental health, but both are equally important. Mental health plays a big role in our overall well-being.
Although the pandemic’s challenges have led to more conversations about mental health, talking about it can still feel difficult or out of reach.
It’s important to remember that we all face challenges in life that can affect our mental well-being.
Understanding the topic can help us maintain good mental health and be more informed when experiencing a mental health condition or crisis.
Our Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) team has pulled together a few resources to help get started:
- Life can be challenging, but every day shouldn’t feel hard or out of our control. A mental health screening at mhascreening.org can help provide a quick snapshot of our personal mental health. The screening is free and anonymous. The screening results can help start a conversation with your primary care provider.
- Our DSCC Transition Tools include a Mental Health Resources tip sheet with a helpful list of crisis hotlines, service locators, videos and more.
- Mental Health America’s (MHA) Back to Basics Toolkit, available in English and Spanish, covers a wide variety of topics and tools including stress management, coping skills, recognizing when help is needed and where to find help and support.
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has resources geared toward kids, teens and young adults. NAMI also provides a coloring and activity book and step-by-step guidance to help parents explore and talk to children about emotional topics or mental health challenges.
- The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has developed a new “Youth, Adolescent and Young Adult Suicide Prevention” webpage. It aims to help family members and others prevent suicide by knowing the facts about suicide, who is at risk, warning signs specific to this age group and protective factors.
- The Caregiver Action Network provides a Blueprint for Families of Loved Ones with Mental Health Issues.
Remember the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255 and the Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741) are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
A new, nationwide three-digit number will also be available this summer for people facing mental health crises. Starting on July 16, anyone in the United States can call 988 and get connected to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
More mental health resources are available in our online Resource Directory. You can also follow our DSCC Facebook page for more reminders and tips throughout the rest of the month.
Knowing the basics about mental health will help us all feel better prepared when needed. Support is out there, and recovery is possible.