It's Mental Health Awareness Month and as everyone from the President of the United States to our local news anchors are joining in the discussion, there has never been a better time to increase awareness about mental health. We kicked off the month with more than 175 supporters at our annual Spring into Recovery Gala. As part of our celebration of self, purpose, and community, we debuted the above video which highlights some of the key services Trilogy offers as well as the positive outcomes that can occur when individuals take an active role in their recovery.
A big thank you to everyone who helped to make our gala a great success! We especially want to thank our Guardian Sponsors—Barnes & Thornburg, LLP and Loyola University Chicago. We also want to thank CBS 2 Chicago news anchor Rob Johnson, our Master of Ceremonies; State Representative Sara Feigenholtz, our 2013 Legislative Partner in Recovery Award honoree; and Nambi E. Kelley, noted actress, playwright, and 2013 Individual Partner in Recovery Award honoree. Thank you to The Kingfish Band for providing crowd-pleasing dance music and thank you to all of our volunteers and everyone who attended.
Thank you for making a difference!
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TRILOGY OFFERS MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID CLASSES TO THE COMMUNITY
Just as CPR training helps a layperson, without medical training, assist an individual who is not breathing, “Mental Health First Aid training helps a layperson assist someone experiencing a mental health crisis," according to the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare website. Samantha Handley, Trilogy’s Vice President and a Certified Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) instructor says, "The idea is to help support a person until appropriate professional help is available. People should think of it like CPR for mental health."
"The MHFA training course was developed so that people in the community could provide comfort and promote recovery for friends or family members living with mental illness,” adds Mary Colleran, a Certified MHFA instructor and Trilogy’s Chief Operating Officer. “People are also given training on assisting someone experiencing a mental health crisis. The National Council suggests that 'friends and family of individuals with mental illness or addictions, key professionals such as: police officers, human resource directors and primary care workers, school and college professionals, persons from faith-based communities, or anyone interested in learning more about mental illness and addiction,' take part in this important program."
Offering MHFA classes is an important component of Trilogy’s efforts to raise awareness and reduces stigma associated with mental illness. Please contact Mary Colleran at mcolleran@trilogyinc.org or 773.382.4056 to find out more about the MHFA classes at Trilogy.
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Trilogy Program Director, Elisabeth Klaasen along with Supportive Housing advocates, Bennie W. and Brenda F., joined Governor Pat Quinn as he announced an $11.98 million award that "will strengthen Illinois’ efforts to allow people with disabilities to live independently in the community of their choice."
In 2012, Trilogy was chosen by the State of IL to be a Williams Class Member provider—one of only five statewide
community organizations assisting men and women, who have lived in a nursing home setting for large portions of their lives, with the transition into their own apartments. Since October 2012, Trilogy has assisted more than 55 individuals with their move from nursing homes into their own residences. These people are now shopping for their own food, making meals for themselves and doing all the things so many of us take for granted as we go about our daily lives. They are engaged in employment activities and working—some, for the first time in their lives, and learning to live independently. We support Gov. Quinn in his efforts to ensure that more individuals have the opportunity to live healthy and independent lives.