Nicasa Behavioral Health Services is proud of the work our Teen Court program does for the youth of Lake County, IL. Since the program started in 1996, more than 5,820 youths have been helped with making positive lifestyle changes that they will use for the rest of their lives. The is almost the population of Highwood, IL! That is an...[ read more ]
In 2021, the Senate recognized November as National Homeless Youth Awareness Month. Many children across Illinois, and the United States, do not have stable, safe homes. Many are also unaccompanied—meaning they are not with a legal guardian or parent while they are unhoused. These children often are absent from school, missing important milestones, and are at a significantly increased risk...[ read more ]
From October 23rd to October 31st is Red Ribbon Week. This week is dedicated to helping youths understand substance misuse as well as empower caregivers with knowledge and resources to have better conversations in the home about substance use. The first Red Ribbon Week was created by The National Family Partnership, formerly the National Federation of Parents for Drug-Free Youth,...[ read more ]
Why is National Latinx Heritage Month September 15th through October 15th? Most American’s incorrectly assume “Mexican Independence Day” is May 5th every year. While Cinco de Mayo is a historically significant event for Mexico—Mexico defeating the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862—it is not as widely recognized as it is in the United States with an...[ read more ]
Did you know that on most days, the average person has between 25,000 and 50,000 thoughts? That’s an impressive amount of thoughts.But when happens when the majority of these thoughts are negative? Imagine the impact on your psyche and your life if you had thousands and thousands of negative thoughts each day?This amount of negative thinking is a hallmark of depression. Negative...[ read more ]
The birth of a new baby brings joy and wonder into our lives. But for many women, the first days and weeks after delivery are mentally and emotionally challenging. This is a result of the massive hormonal changes her body is going through.On top of these extreme hormonal shifts, there is the serious sleep deprivation and the cultural expectations new...[ read more ]
August 26th is National Women’s Equality Day; a day to acknowledge how far women have come on their journey toward equality and how much more work is still to be done. While the greatest gender gaps are found primarily in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, according to the World Economic Forum, there are still areas of inequality women...[ read more ]
Your summer is about to start looking peachier because August is officially National Peach Month! One of my favorite summer memories as a kid was stopping by a fruit stand on the side of the road and getting a small brown paper bag full of juicy, ripe peaches. Back then I just knew peaches were incredibly delicious. Now, however, I...[ read more ]
August 1st is International Overdose Awareness Day; a day to raise awareness and commemorate loved ones who have died from a drug overdose. According to the CDC, over 70,000 Americans died from a drug-involved overdose in 2019 alone. That number reflects the fact our nation is currently suffering from a serious opioid epidemic.Losing a loved one to a drug overdose...[ read more ]
We’ve all had those days when the alarm goes off and we lie in bed, feeling depleted of our energy, and maybe even our good mood. We think to ourselves, “I’m not really sick, but I just need a break from real life today.” While taking a sick day is common when you are feeling physically unwell, what’s not as...[ read more ]
