Lake Co. Focuses On Mental Health, Substance Abuse Issues

LAKE COUNTY, IL —The Lake County Health Department has received a state grant for more than $1.9 million to fund a Mobile Response Program, which will increase access to immediate support for those experiencing mental health or substance use issues.

As it prepares for the rollout of the program, the health department is working to build its mobile response teams.

The mobile response program is an expansion of the health department’s existing crisis care program and its voluntary respite program. With the addition of mobile response services, the crisis care program will be able to dispatch a highly specialized two-person team to assist a person experiencing a mental health crisis in Lake County.

Each team includes a mental health clinician and engagement specialist, according to a news release.

Engagement specialists are individuals who have health with mental illness or substance use disorder and been successful in the recovery process. They are skilled in helping others experiencing similar situations.

“We are proud to add the Mobile Response Program to our existing mental health services” said Sam Johnson, Director of Behavioral Health at the Lake County Health Department. “Especially important is having a mobile response team with lived experience and understanding of the individual’s crisis. ”

Mental health clinicians and those who have first-hand experience with mental health illness or substance use disorders, and who want to make a difference in the community as an engagement specialist, can apply here.

“While the program will ultimately provide mental health emergency services, we hope that it will also reduce the stigma surrounding mental health crisis. This program strives to create space for meaningful conversations about what a person needs during a mental health emergency,” said Amy Greskiw, program coordinator of the mobile response program. “We know that we can’t do this alone. Collaboration with clients and the community is going to be crucial in making sure that the Mobile Response Program is successful.”