Building Community One Person at a Time
Empower Mental Health is a member of the Illinois Mental Health Summit and has a history of being a proponent of several Illinois bills improving access to mental health care, treatment, and services. Rebecca serves on the MHAI public policy committee helping to create bills that improve access to and treatment of mental health for residents of Illinois.
We Believe in you Care packages: Quarterly care packages to help people living with mental illness travel on public transportation, receive small comforts, and know they matter
Donating to Mental Health America of Illinois: For each person we are paid to teach we donate $3 to www.mhai.org
Free Courses: Subscribe to our monthly newsletter. On the first day of each month two names will be drawn for free enrollment into one of our courses: Mental Health Frist Aid, Self-care or an Empowerment course. This prize must be redeemed within 90 days of winning.
Natalie's Way
Natalie was a beautiful soul whose life was cut short by addiction. Whether it is caused by unresolved child abuse issues, domestic violence, a genetic pre-disposition to addiction or the effects of trauma, addiction is a debilitating way to live. Recovery is possible but often takes a great deal of time with many failed attempts to live your life free of addiction. The love and support of family and friends is crucial in re-creating a life that thrives in recovery.
Natalie's legacy is highlighted by Natalie never quitting to find recovery. After dozens of attempts to live her life free of drugs, she was accepted into a 90-day Women’s Residential Treatment Center even though she was uninsured. At the age of 49, after 34 years of drug misuse, she was able to recover from her addiction. She celebrated one year of creating unlimited goals and dreams while volunteering herself to help others find their way. Before she could experience much of what she hoped for herself or her daughter, Natalie became tragically ill and died at the age of 50.
Natalie’s Way is the way of a fighter, celebrating the extraordinary spirit that refuses to quit. In order to honor Natalie and continue her work to help others in their recovery we partner with the Woman’s Residential Services; treatment at this 90 day residential program enabled Natalie to obtain sobriety. Each month "Natalie's Way" gifts a woman being discharged with a needed housing deposit, household essentials, finances for childcare, or any item that is essential to assist her on her way to living a life free of addiction.
El Camino de Santiago
In 2018, the El Camino de Santiago was walked to increase awareness and literacy in Mental health. This 500 mile journey across Spain opened up several doors to conversation about how different parts of the world view and treat Mental Health. We are grateful for all the the sharing and candid feedback expressed when discussing how people with mental illness are cared for and treatled. The support for challenging the Status quo around the world regarding Mental Health awareness and education was truly extraordinary.
Before the walk, an Instagram account was created (adding another social media account) so that individuals could engage virtually on this journey and be given the opportunity to make donations to Mental Health America of Illinois.
We are grateful to all those who generously helped raise $1000 for Mental Health America of Illinois related to the walk.
Empowerment Blog
Check here on the 13th of each month for a blog written in the spirit of Hope and Recovery to Educate, Inspire, Motivate and Empower you!
Empowerment - Your Choices Matter