Blog

Happy Latinx Heritage Month from everyone at Nicasa Behavioral Health Services! Our largest care population across all services is Latinx individuals and families. We recognize how large of a milestone this is not only for us as a service provider, but for our community. SAMSHA reported in 2021, approximately 22% of Latinx Americans reported having concerns with their mental health....[ read more ]

September is an important month for Nicasa. September is a call for action, awareness, and hope. We recognize both National Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. While these topics can be difficult to discuss, these are incredibly important conversations that could save a life. It is unfortunate that substance use, mental health challenges, and suicidal ideation are stigmatized so...[ read more ]

August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day. Nicasa Behavioral Health Services sees that this is not something only one entity can take on alone. Behavioral health and social service concerns do not occur in a vacuum. The effects of substance use, and overdose have boarder ripple effects. These individuals may not know, but they are never isolated nor alone in...[ read more ]

During 2021, 1 in 5 adults experienced some mental health challenges, while 1 in 20 adults experienced a serious mental health concern. For many, seeking assistance for a mental health concern is a challenge that goes beyond the availability of qualified professionals—in Lake County, IL for every 303 patients there is 1 provider. It starts with being able to even...[ read more ]

If you are sober or choosing to limit your consumption, it can be difficult to navigate situations and events where there is an increased pressure to consume alcohol and other substances. For decades, alcohol and substance use have been challenges in LGBTQIAA+ community spaces due to frequent stigmatization individuals face that can lead to substance use as a coping mechanism....[ read more ]

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Often, when someone considers mental health, they view it in a vacuum. That mental health symptoms and concerns are independent and unrelated to other events happening in a person’s life. While this may be true in some situations, for many people their mental health can be partially dependent on challenges and obstacles in their...[ read more ]

With Spring in full swing, more and more people are getting ready for a busy concert, festival, vacation, and event season. This often means an increase in opportunities for using alcohol and substances in these social settings where people feel “safer” to experiment than they normally would. There is a lot of misinformation out there, and peer pressure isn’t something...[ read more ]

A significant body of research shows that young brains are often the most impressionable and that presence of addictive substances can drastically alter and stunt normal brain tissue development. The influence of these substances can have both immediate social and behavioral consequences, as well as far reaching health impacts that can affect a person for decades to come. The risk...[ read more ]

All relationships exist on a spectrum. What might work for one person, might not work for someone else. That is what makes relationships so unique and special. However, it is important to recognize that all healthy relationships have the same building blocks: communication, respect, trust, honesty, and equality. When these blocks are missing, it may lead to some disharmony and...[ read more ]

January isn’t only for setting New Years Resolutions, but it is also Mental Wellness Month. This focus helps people prioritize their mental health while exploring new ways to increase their overall wellness. Mental Wellness is more than just the absence of mental illness or mental concerns. It is about promoting healthy strategies to increase your sense of wellbeing and prevention....[ read more ]