NAMI Northwest Suburbs Chicago News & Blog

Preventing Suicide With Effective Care and Coping Skills

by Timothy Westlake, M.D., FACEP, Chief of Staff, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration | samhsa.gov Suicide Prevention Month is an opportunity to renew our national commitment to addressing one of America’s most serious public health challenges. No one should have to face a moment of crisis or despair alone or without access to help and hope. Suicide prevention work remains an urgent priority. It is a leading cause of death for several age groups, affecting individuals, families, and communities across our nation. In 2024, 48,824 American lives were lost to suicide. But there is also reason for hope. Suicide is preventable, and encouraging data shows that progress is possible. SAMHSA’s 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found significant … Read more

Child Tantrums vs. DMDD: Helpful Signs to Know

by Colleen de Bellfonds | thriveworks.com Every kid wakes up grumpy on the occasional school day or throws an epic tantrum when they’re denied screen time. A small portion of … Read more

Study Reveals Powerful Benefits of Greener Neighborhoods

mountsinai.org Nature Communications study suggests heat, air pollution, and limited green space may contribute to long-term physical and mental health challenges New York, NY (September 11, 2026) Twenty-five years after … Read more

Later Life: Powerful Support for Men’s Mental Health

by Kirk E. James, M.D., Physician, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment | samhsa.gov For many men, midlife and the years that follow bring significant change — retirement, loss of a … Read more

Online Mental Health Care Made Easier With Expert Tips

by Shari Harding | theconversation.com As a mental health nurse practitioner who sees patients both in person and via telehealth, I’m often struck by just how many of my patients would not … Read more

Physical and Mental Health Share Powerful Genetic Links

by Lisa Marshall | colorado.edu For centuries, mental illness and physical disease have been viewed as two distinct categories, each with its own field of study, its own doctors, and … Read more

Virtual Care Brings Hope for Reducing Substance Use

nih.gov Emerging adults who participated in workshops combining evidence-based interventions and traditional practices reported reduced cannabis, alcohol use, and anxiety. A National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded clinical trial funded by … Read more

Extreme Heat Challenges Inspire Smart Changes in Schools

apa.org New report finds extreme heat in pre-K through 12 schools harms learning and health, offers recommendations to mitigate the damage Washington — Heat waves pose a growing threat to learning, … Read more

Anxiety Clues Bring Hope for Earlier Youth Support

by Michelle Marie Arean, Florida International University | medicalxpress.com How a child focuses when upset is far more revealing about their mental health than how they focus when calm, according to FIU … Read more

Child Speech Uncovers Early Mental Health Warning Signs

nih.gov NIH-funded, AI-powered analysis of interviews suggests that a youth’s framing of stressful events is a strong indicator of risk for future disorders. By applying artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to interviews with children about early life stress, researchers identified linguistic features that predicted future … Read more

Work Becomes More Meaningful Living with Uncertainty

by Hui Xu | apa.org Washington — People who accept that there may not always be a perfect career choice and learn to make decisions despite uncertainty are more likely to find … Read more

App Shows Promising Benefits for Adults with ADHD

by Sanjukta Mondal | medicalxpress.com Once believed to be a condition that children outgrow, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is now recognized as a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that often persists into … Read more

Family Caregivers Deserve Stronger Mental Health Support

nami.org | July 14, 2026 A joint post from the National Alliance for Caregiving and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Behind nearly every person managing a serious health condition … Read more

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