Kane County Behavioral Health Council celebrating 10 years

During Mental Health Month in May, the Kane County Mental Health Council is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its founding.

Just this year, it combined the Mental Health Council with the Community Health Improvement Plan's (CHIP) Behavioral Health Action Team to improve services and be more inclusive of the agencies in the county.

Now, it will be known as the Kane County Behavioral Health Council.

Since its beginning in 2007, the council has grown to 23 agencies. Over those 10 years, its accomplishments include a regular newsletter; the "Message of the Month," which highlights a different behavioral health topic each month; a dedicated website; the development a social media presence on Facebook and Twitter.

It also produced the "Layperson's Guide to Mental Illness," a PowerPoint presentation given to groups throughout the county.

It also led a marketing campaign, "We Support Mental Health," which saw groups and agencies across the county adopt the badge to show their support.

Now that behavioral health has been selected as one of the top three health priorities in Kane County, the CHIP Behavioral Health Action Team has identified outcome objectives and impact objectives, with overall mission of improving the mental health of Kane County residents by 2030.

To learn more, visit www.wesupportmentalhealth.org.