Mental Health Toolkit

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Mental Health Positive Psychology & Wellness Common Diagnoses Cultural Diversity Factors and Implications Red Flags and Risk Factors Statistics Coping Skills Building a Support System Resources

Mental Health

What is mental health?

Mental health includes our emotions, mind, and relationships with others. It’s displayed in how WE THINK, FEEL, AND ACT. It helps us determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important in every stage of life; from child, to teen, all the way through becoming an adult [1]. Mental health problems are common, but not everyone is diagnosed with a mental illness [2].

Your experiences with mental health challenges can be uniquely your own. Some have trouble doing things they like or need to do because of how they feel–like going to school, work or hanging out with friends; some may be feeling down or upset for long periods of time [3].

Remember that everyone goes through tough times, and no matter how long it’s been occupying your mind, it’s important to talk to someone about it like your parents/guardian, counselors, or family doctor. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or emotional distress help is available. Call the national suicide prevention lifeline at 988.

In Illinois, minors aged 12 and older can receive confidential mental health services, including counseling and psychotherapy, without parental consent. They also have the right to access and authorize the release of their own mental health records, and parents’ access is limited.

[1] Mental Health. (2020). What is mental Health. Retrieved from https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health [2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). Learn About Mental Health. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm [3] Mental Health. (2020). Talk About Mental Health. Retrieved from https://www.mentalhealth.gov/talk [4] National Institution of Mental Health. (2020). Help for Mental Health. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help/index.shtml

Positive Psychology

Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes life most worth living [1]. Simply put, positive psychology is the study of happiness. This relatively new branch of psychology studies human thoughts, feelings, and behavior, with a focus on strengths instead of weaknesses, and building the good in life instead of repairing the bad [1].

When you think of traditional therapy, you might imagine a session where a psychologist asks personal questions to diagnose and fix problems with you and your family. Positive psychology flips this idea on its head. It doesn’t focus on what needs to be fixed, but rather on your strengths and what’s going well in your life. The great thing is, you can even practice many positive psychology exercises at home, either by yourself or with an adult.

Some Positive Psychology Exercises

The Three Good Things Exercise

How it works: At the end of each day, write down three things that went well, no matter how small. For each item, write a brief explanation of why it went well.
Why it works: This simple practice helps retrain your brain to notice and appreciate the positive aspects of your life, shifting your focus away from a negativity bias.

Gratitude Journaling

How it works: Similar to the “Three Good Things,” but with a broader focus. Dedicate a journal to writing down things you are grateful for. You can do this daily or weekly. You can be grateful for people, opportunities, experiences, or even simple pleasures like a warm cup of coffee.
Why it works: Expressing gratitude has been shown to increase happiness, improve relationships, and boost overall well-being

Identify and Use Your Signature Strengths

How it works: Take the free VIA Character Strengths Survey online to identify your top character strengths (e.g., creativity, kindness, humor, leadership, perseverance). Once you know your strengths, make a conscious effort to use them more often in your daily life. And make a list that highlights your strengths. Your strengths list can start with phrases like: “I think I am really good at…”, “Others think I am great at…”, “I really admire myself for…”.
Why it works: Using your strengths more often can lead to a greater sense of engagement, meaning, and fulfillment in your life.

Acts of Kindness

How it works: Make a conscious effort to perform acts of kindness for others. These can be big or small—from helping a friend with a task to giving a genuine compliment to a stranger. Write these actions down in a journal and at the end of the week, reflect on how others reacted to your act of kindness and how it made you feel. You can also talk about this with a trusted adult such as a parent, teacher, or a coach.
Why it works: Research shows that being kind to others not only benefits them but also boosts your own happiness and sense of connection.

[1] Peterson, C. (2008, May 16). What Is Positive Psychology, and What Is It Not? Retrieved June 26, 2025, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-good-life/200805/what-is-positive-psychology-and-what-is-it-not

Overall Wellness

When we think of wellness, we often only consider exercise and nutrition. However, wellness is much broader, encompassing our entire state of well-being, including many other aspects of our health beyond just diet and physical activity.

Physical

Nourishing a healthy body through exercise, nutrition, sleep, etc.

Mental

Engaging the world through learning, problem-solving, creativity, etc.

Emotional

Being aware of, accepting and expressing our feelings, and understanding the feelings of others.

Spiritual

Searching for meaning and higher purpose in human existence.

Social

Connecting and engaging with others and our communities in meaningful ways.

Environmental

Fostering positive interrelationships between planetary health and human actions, choices and wellbeing.

Your well-being is like a network of connected parts. It’s important to pay attention to your overall state of wellness because all these dimensions of health affect one another, which directly shapes how you feel, think, and act.

Find out where your state of wellness is by creating your own wellness wheel.

The Wellness Wheel Model represents our overall state of well-being. Within this wheel, there are separate slices and each slice represents a different dimension of health.

Try to identify your overall state of well-being by rating each dimension of health. To do this, shade in each slice to the appropriate line that best matches how important focusing on this dimension is to you and how it can help improve your overall wellness.

For example:

Someone’s wheel that looks like this would say that working to improve their energy levels (8) and the amount they are physically active (7) would be most important to them. Working to improve personal relationships (2), lose weight (2), improve sleep (2), and lowering risk for disease (1) are not important at this time.

This activity is a chance to pause and see where you might need support from a trusted adult to improve certain areas of your health. You might find you need a lot of help in some areas—or even all of them—and that’s completely normal. Others might need less help, and that’s okay, too. Remember, wellness is a continuous journey for everyone. There will be times in your life when you need extra support, and it’s always okay to ask for it.

[2] What is Wellness? (2019, May 14). Retrieved June 26, 2025, from https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/what-is-wellness/

Common Diagnoses

Occasional feelings of fear or worry are a normal part of life. If these feelings begin to disrupt your school, work, or home life, or prevent you from participating in your usual activities, it’s a good idea to speak with a trusted person. Below, we will explore some common mental health conditions that can impact how people learn, behave, and handle emotions, often making daily life a challenge.

Anxiety

We all get nervous or scared. But what if those worries never seem to go away? If constant fears start getting in the way of your life at home, school, or with friends, it might be more than just a passing feeling—it could be anxiety. Anxiety shows up in different ways for everyone, and it can look different for kids than it does for adults.

In a child, anxiety might look like:

Always worrying that something bad will happen.
Finding it hard to pay attention in class or answer questions.
Struggling with homework, tests, or group projects.
Frequent trips to the nurse’s office for physical symptoms like a tummy ache or headache.
Not wanting to go to school.
Feeling easily annoyed or angry.
Feeling anxious when away from a parent.

In an adult, anxiety might look like:

Feeling nervous, restless or tense
Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
Having an increased heart rate
Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
Sweating
Trembling
Feeling weak or tired
Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
Having trouble sleeping
Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems
Having difficulty controlling worry
Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety

See your doctor if:

You feel like you’re worrying too much and it’s interfering with your work, relationships or other parts of your life
Your fear, worry or anxiety is upsetting to you and difficult to control
You feel depressed, have trouble with alcohol or drug use, or have other mental health concerns along with anxiety
You think your anxiety could be linked to a physical health problem
You have suicidal thoughts or behaviors — if this is the case, seek emergency treatment immediately

Your worries may not go away on their own, and they may get worse over time if you don’t seek help. See your doctor or a mental health provider before your anxiety gets worse. It’s easier to treat if you get help early [1].

[1] Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Anxiety. Retrieved June 27, 2025, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/symptoms-causes/syc-20350961

Depression

Everyone feels sad sometimes. But if you’ve lost interest in activities you once loved and are experiencing persistent feelings of hopelessness or helplessness, you may be dealing with depression. Other signs of depression include:

Depressed mood, sadness, or irritability
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
Change in weight or appetite
Change in sleep
Feeling sped up or slowed down
Fatigue or loss of energy
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Trouble concentrating or making decisions
Thoughts of death or acts of self-harm

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or emotional distress help is available. Call or text the national suicide and crisis lifeline at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. There is hope.

Eating Disorders

We all have moments of concern about our appearance. But if that worry is constant and starts to impact your eating habits in a way that feels unhealthy or secretive, it’s important to know that it could be a sign of an eating disorder. Eating disorders come in many forms, and some of the signs include:

Counting calories
Skipping meals
Not wanting to eat around friends or family
Spending many hours exercising
Going to the bathroom after meals or spending a lot of time in the bathroom

If you or a loved one are struggling with an eating disorder, call the Eating Disorders Helpline toll-free at 1 (888)-375-7767 Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm CST.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event—like a car accident, a natural disaster, an act of violence, or the death of a loved one—can be incredibly difficult. While many people recover from these events, if you are still struggling after one month, you may be experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Signs to look for can include:

Flashbacks, or re-experiencing the event
Trying to avoid things that remind you of the trauma
Having nightmares
Difficulty sleeping
Having changes in mood, like being more irritable than usual
Being easily startled

Behavioral Disorders

Anger & Behavior:

It’s normal to disagree or argue with people sometimes—it’s a healthy part of growing up. However, if anger and irritability have become your norm, it might indicate a behavioral disorder [8]. Other signs can include frequently losing your temper and struggling to follow rules set by adults.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):

Do you have a hard time staying focused and paying attention in class? Do you get easily distracted when working on an assignment? If so, you may be experiencing Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) [9]. ADHD can make it very challenging for students to complete assignments and stay organized.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD):

Some young people have unwanted thoughts and urges that cause them to repeat certain actions over and over. These thoughts and actions can take up a lot of time and get in the way of daily life. This is known as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) [10]. An example is repeatedly checking something, like a locked door, or having to think or say the same words. If you have OCD, these thoughts and urges can be very hard to ignore, which can be frustrating.

Getting Support

If any of these conditions sound familiar, please know you are not alone. It’s more common than you might think—up to 1 in 5 children and teens experience a mental health disorder [1]. This is not your fault; these conditions can arise from complex factors that researchers are still working to understand [11]. The first and most important step to getting support is to talk to a trusted adult or friend. The sooner you reach out, the sooner you can start your journey toward mental wellness and recovery.

[8] Child Mind Institute. (n.d.). What is Oppositional Defiant Disorder?. https://childmind.org/article/what-is-odd-oppositional-defiant-disorder/ National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (2018, March). Autism Spectrum Disorder. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-asd/index.shtml

[9] Association for Children’s Mental Health. (n.d.). Common Mental Health Diagnosis in Children and Youth. http://www.acmh-mi.org/get-information/childrens-mental-health101/common-diagnosis/

[10] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2020, March 30). Obsessive Compulsive Disorders in Children. https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/ocd.html

[11] National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). (n.d.). Teens and Young Adults. https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Teens-Young-Adults

Cultural DIversity

Your cultural background profoundly shapes your worldview, including how you perceive and experience mental health and its symptoms. These cultural variations extend to the effectiveness of different treatments, support systems, and coping mechanisms. Therefore, a deep awareness of these cultural differences is absolutely essential for providing appropriate and personalized mental healthcare to everyone.

It’s common to encounter cultural barriers that can make accessing mental healthcare challenging.

These can include:

Distrust or Fear of Treatment

Past experiences or cultural beliefs might lead to apprehension about seeking professional help.

Differing Views on Illness and Health

How mental health conditions are understood and perceived can vary significantly across cultures, impacting willingness to seek care.

Language and Communication Difficulties

When providers and patients don’t share a common language or understanding of communication styles, effective care can be hindered.

Limited Access

Practical obstacles like inadequate insurance coverage or a lack of affordable services can prevent people from getting the care they need.

Lack of Diverse Staff

Not seeing mental health professionals who share similar cultural backgrounds or experiences can make it difficult to build trust and feel understood.

Understanding Mental Health Disparities by Race and Ethnicity

People who identify as being two or more races (24.9%) are most likely to report any mental illness within the past year than any other race/ethnic group.
Asians are less likely to use mental health services than any other race/ ethnic group.
Although rates of depression are lower in blacks (24.6%) and Hispanics (19.6%) than in whites (34.7%), depression in blacks and Hispanics is likely to be more persistent.
People from racial/ethnic minority groups are less likely to receive mental health care.
American Indians/Alaskan Natives report higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol dependence than any other ethic/ racial group.
American Psychiatric Association. (2017, December). Mental health facts for diverse populations. https://www.psychiatry.org/getmedia/bac9c998-5b2d-4ffa-ace9-d35844b8475a/Mental-Health-Facts-for-Diverse-Populations.pdf

In What Ways Does Culture Affect Mental Health?

Stigma and shame surrounding mental illness
What approaches you use to seeking help
Perceptions and coping mechanisms for mental illness
People from racial/ethnic minority groups are less likely to receive mental health care.
Communication styles and language barriers
Expression and interpretation of symptoms

How can you help your mental health professional understand your culture?

You can share with them:

The language you speak at home and school
Your cultural values and religious beliefs
Obstacles that limit your access to mental health care

What can the mental health professional do?

Provide translation and interpretation services
Recognize unfair bias they may have about your culture
Provide support and information to school staff and your parents

Warning Signs

Our bodies often give us important clues about our overall well-being. Think of physical symptoms like a runny nose or a cough: they’re clear red flags signaling something is amiss, perhaps the flu or another physical illness. These symptoms are your body’s way of telling you it needs help, usually prompting a visit to the doctor for medicine.

Mental health works in a similar way. Just as your body sends physical warning signs, your thoughts, feelings, or behaviors can act as red flags indicating your mental health might need attention.

While there are many such signs, here are some common ones that suggest it might be time to reach out to a trusted adult, counselor, or mental health professional:

Loss of interest or pleasure in favorite activities
Excessive fear or worrying
Extreme mood changes
Feeling irritable or angry for longer than usual
Significant weight loss or gain, or change in eating habits
Change in sleep patterns
Restlessness or agitation
Fatigue or loss of energy
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Trouble concentrating or making decisions
Repeated thoughts of death or suicide

School, family, and social lives can be incredibly rewarding, but they also present significant challenges for students. When reviewing signs that indicate a need for mental health support, some students might easily recognize several in their own lives. Certain aspects of a student’s life can make them more susceptible to these issues; these are known as risk factors.

Risk factors increase the chances of experiencing mental health problems. It’s crucial to understand that while risk factors raise the likelihood, they don’t guarantee that someone will develop a mental illness.

Risk Factors

Many factors contribute to mental health outcomes, and experiencing several risk factors can increase the likelihood of mental health challenges:

Genetics

Understanding your family’s history of mental illness is important, as a genetic predisposition can increase your own risk.

Stress

Adolescence, in particular, can bring various stressors, including peer pressure, navigating sexual identity, and the growing influence of technology.

Trauma

Experiencing traumatic events—such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, witnessing or being a victim of violence, or surviving natural disasters—can profoundly and negatively impact mental well-being.

Identity Issues

Adolescents exploring their gender identity or sexual orientation may face a higher risk of anxiety and depression, especially if they lack support from family or their community.

Socioeconomic Status (SES)

Socioeconomic disadvantages are recognized mental health risks. Some adolescents are more vulnerable to mental health conditions due to challenging living situations or limited access to quality support and services.

While you can’t control many risk factors like genetics or socioeconomic status (SES), you can take charge of your mental well-being by prioritizing your mental health and seeking help from trusted adults at school, such as school counselors, psychologists, or teachers.

Statistics

Millions of people are affected by mental illness each year. Across the country, many people just like you work, perform, create, compete, laugh, love and inspire every day.
22.8% of U.S. adults experienced mental illness in 2021 (57.8 million people). This represents 1 in 5 adults.
5.5% of U.S. adults experienced serious mental illness in 2021 (14.1 million people). This represents 1 in 20 adults.
16.5% of U.S. youth aged 6-17 experienced a mental health disorder in 2016 (7.7 million people)
7.6% of U.S. adults experienced a co-occurring substance use disorder and mental illness in 2021 (19.4 million people)
People with depression have a 40% higher risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases than the general population. People with serious mental illness are nearly twice as likely to develop these conditions.
33.5% of U.S. adults with mental illness also experienced a substance use disorder in 2021 (19.4 million individuals)
The rate of unemployment is higher among U.S. adults who have mental illness (7.4%) compared to those who do not (4.6%)
High school students with significant symptoms of depression are more than twice as likely to drop out compared to their peers
Students aged 6-17 with mental, emotional or behavioral concerns are 3x more likely to repeat a grade.

Annual prevalence of serious thoughts of suicide, high risk populations:

U.S. Adults: Annual Average 4.8%

Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: 7.4%
Mixed/Multiracial: 8.2%
American Indian/Alaska Native: 8.5%

Youth Populations

Young adults aged 18-25: 13%
High school students: 22%
LGBTQ youth: 45%

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-14 and the 3rd leading cause of death among those aged 15-24 in the U.S.
Lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are nearly 4x more likely to attempt suicide than straight youth
79% of people who die by suicide are male

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). (n.d.). Mental Health By the Numbers. Retrieved July 3, 2025, from https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/mental-health-by-the-numbers/

Coping Skills

Coping means to face and deal with responsibilities, problems, or difficulties in a calm, appropriate and successful manner. We use coping strategies sometimes without paying attention. It is what we do to make ourselves feel better when we are upset. Coping helps us tackle our problems and find solutions like asking for help or processing strong feelings for difficult situations we cannot change.

Always remember that coping is incredibly individual – what works for one person may not work for another. This is why it’s so important to be open to trying new coping skills. Embrace the idea that your needs and approaches will change over time; the coping strategies that served you well as a child may be very different from those that support you as an adult.

While coping skills are vital for maintaining mental well-being, recognizing the need for professional support is equally important. Please refer to our resources page for assistance.

Coping Skills for Youth

Practice slow, deep breathing: in through your nose, out through your mouth
Read a book
Exercise or play your favorite sport
Journal
Paint
Play with your pet
Listen to your favorite music
For more coping skills for youth in specific visit: Microsoft Word – ACH 99 Healthy Coping Skills-rev

Coping Skills for Adults

Listen to music.
Go for a walk.
Deep breaths – 5 counts in, 5 counts out.
Call/text a friend.
Journal (write your thoughts and feelings).
Cook or bake.
Ask for help or support.
Accept and become aware of what you cannot control & focus on what you can control.
Focus on being in the present moment.
Use positive self-talk
For more information and advice for caregivers in specific visit: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/about/community-health/johns-hopkins-bayview/services/called-to-care/develop-battery-coping-skills

Building A Support System

When navigating a health condition, whether it’s physical or mental, a strong support network becomes incredibly valuable. These connections offer not just practical help, like assisting with household tasks, but also provide vital emotional support. Sharing your experiences with trusted individuals can be profoundly helpful. By cultivating a robust support system, you empower yourself to break free from unhelpful patterns, alleviate difficult emotions, and shift yourself toward healing and recovery.

What is a Support System?

A support system is a network of people or resources that an individual can rely on for various forms of help and encouragement, especially during challenging times or when striving for personal growth. It’s essentially your personal “village” that helps you navigate life. They:

Have your best interests in mind
Understand you need help
Listen to you
Share good advice and encouragement
Help you with your emotions, daily tasks, and other practical things

A support system can be made up of a diverse group of individuals and even non-human sources:

Family members

Parents, siblings, spouses/partners, children, extended family.

Friends

Close friends, acquaintances, colleagues.

Professionals

Therapists, counselors, doctors, coaches, mentors, teachers, social workers.

Community

Neighbors, religious groups, clubs, online forums, support groups.

Pets

Many people find immense emotional comfort and support from their animal companions.

How do I build my Support System?

It may feel scary to reach out and ask for help. But everyone needs help at some point in their life. You can ask different people to help you in different ways. Start by talking with a friend or family member who:

Listens to you during both good and hard times
Respects your privacy
Let’s you freely express and validates your emotions without criticizing or judging
Let’s you make decisions, changes, and even mistakes
Wants to help you move forward and has your best interest in mind

The conversation might include:

Laying the groundwork. Prepare them to have an important conversation. Let them know what you’d like to talk about and how much time you may need.
Setting boundaries. Be clear about when you want advice and when you’d like them just to listen.
Sharing ideas for support. For example:
Giving encouragement or a hug
Helping you find the right treatment
Helping you get to an appointment
Hearing your goals for how you’ll recover and checking in with you about your progress

Saint Luke’s Health System. (n.d.). Support network for mental health. Retrieved from https://www.saintlukeskc.org/health-library/support-network-mental-health

Resources

Crisis & Immediate Support

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 from anywhere in the U.S. This is a 24/7, free, and confidential service for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis, emotional distress, or suicidal thoughts.
Call for Help Hotline (Mental Health Association): (309) 673-7373
Peoria County Emergency Response Services (ERS): (309) 671-8084. This service can provide crisis evaluation and counseling, and in some cases, transport individuals experiencing a psychiatric crisis.
The Living Room (Trillium Place): (309) 671-8084. Offers walk-in mental health support for adults 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s a safe and supportive setting to connect with a recovery specialist for crisis support, safety planning, and goal setting at no cost. Located at 130 N. Richard Pryor Place, Peoria, IL 61605.
Crisis Text Line: Text “HELLO” or “NAMI” to 741741 for 24/7, confidential, free crisis counseling via text message.
The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ Crisis Hotline): Call (866) 488-7386 or Text “START” to 678-678.
Youth Crisis Line CARES: 1-800-345-9049. A 24/7 community-based program that provides emergency assessments to children experiencing a psychiatric crisis.
National Parent & Youth Helpline: (855) 427-2736. A judgment-free, compassionate space for parents, caregivers, and youth in need of immediate emotional support 24/7.
211: Dial 2-1-1 for a non-emergency number that connects people with essential community information and services, including mental health crisis support.

Counseling & Therapy Services

Trillium Place (Affiliated with Carle Health)

Trillium Place is a major provider of comprehensive addiction and mental health services in central Illinois, with several locations in Peoria and surrounding areas. They offer counseling, outpatient and inpatient services, and psychiatry for children, teens, and adults.

Trillium Place Young Minds Center: A new center specifically for children and adolescents needing mental and behavioral health support.
Trillium Place Outpatient Services: Including services for pregnancy and postpartum women with substance use issues.
Virtual Behavioral Health Care: Offers virtual outpatient programs for both mental wellness and substance use disorders.
Main Contact: (888) 311-0321 and for 24-Hour Response Services: (309) 347-1148

University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria – Psychiatry and Psychology Outpatient Center

Provides diagnostic services, medication management, counseling, and therapeutic services for a wide range of mental disorders. They offer various treatment approaches, including CBT, DBT, and psychodynamic therapy.

Address: Methodist Atrium Building, 900 Main Street, Suite 720, Peoria, Illinois 61602.
Phone: (309) 495-1640 or (309) 495-1671 (for crisis).

OSF Behavioral Health (OSF Saint Francis Medical Center):

Provides support for children and adults facing acute emotional or behavioral problems.

Address: 530 NE Glen Oak Ave, Peoria, IL 61637.
Phone: (309) 655-2000.

FamilyCore

Offers counseling services to individuals and families, with specialty areas including depression, anxiety, parent-child conflicts, school problems, marital concerns, drug and alcohol issues, grief/loss, adolescence, trauma, and life adjustments.

Address: 330 S.W. Washington St., Peoria, IL 61602.
Phone: (309) 676-2400.

Human Service Center

Provides a variety of mental health services, including outpatient treatment, residential treatment, and services for individuals with serious mental illness.

Address: 600 Fayette, P.O. Box 1346, Peoria, IL 61654-1346.
Phone: (309) 671-8000.

Gateway Foundation (Peoria)

Offers substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health treatment programs, including individual therapy and medication management for mental health concerns.

Address: 4812 North Sheridan Road, Suite A, Peoria, IL, 61614.
Admissions: (309) 316-7632.

Agape Counseling

Christian counseling services.

(309) 692-4433

The Antioch Group

Offers counseling and mental health services for various issues.

(309) 692-6622

LifeStance Health

Offers therapy and psychiatry services for children, adolescents, adults, and new parents, treating conditions like ADHD, anxiety, depression, grief, etc. They accept most insurance plans.

Address: 5901 N Prospect Rd, Suite 202, Peoria, IL 61614.
Phone: (309) 834-1780.

Associates in Mental Health SC

A private practice with Board-Certified Psychiatrists and Licensed Therapists serving Peoria and surrounding communities.

Address: 900 Main St, Peoria, IL.
Phone: (309) 637-4266.

Support Groups & Community Resources

NAMI Tri-County Illinois (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

Offers support groups for individuals with mental health conditions (NAMI Connection) and for their family members and friends (NAMI Family Support Group). They also provide educational meetings and resources.

Support Group Meetings: Typically held on the 3rd Thursday of each month (except December) at Illinois Central College’s Poplar Hall, Peoria Campus. Check their website for current schedules.
Website: namitri-countyillinois.org

Illinois Central College Counseling Services

Available for students experiencing mental health crisis situations during business hours.

Phone: (309) 694-5281

Peoria City/County Health Department

Provides information and links to various community resources related to mental health and suicide awareness.

Website: pcchd.org (Look under “Community Resources” or “Mental Health & Suicide Awareness”).

Children’s Home Association of Illinois

Provides emotional and mental health support services for kids between 3 and 20 years old in Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties. Also offers Mobile Crisis Response.

Clinical Services Phone: (309) 685-1047 (for general services)
Mobile Crisis Response: (800) 345-9049

Finding Affordable Care

OpenCounseling.com

This website lists free or low-cost counseling options in East Peoria and provides information on qualifying for state-funded counseling in Illinois.

Psychology Today

You can use their “Find a Therapist” tool and filter by “Medicaid” or other insurance types to find providers who accept lower-cost options or offer sliding scales.

Check with Providers Directly

Many clinics and individual therapists offer sliding scale fees based on income or accept various insurance plans. Always ask about costs and payment options when you first contact them.

When seeking help, it’s a good idea to call the listed numbers, visit the websites, and inquire about their specific services, accepted insurance plans, and appointment availability.