Past Releases: Illinois Campus Shooting
Learn how local mental health providers in Dekalb, IL are offering support services to help the campus and the community cope with the tragedy.
Mental Health Experts Available for Interviews
Contact Communications@thenationalcouncil.org or 301.984.6200, ext. 228.
Washington, DC (February 20, 2008)—Mental health experts from the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (National Council) are available to comment on the February 14 shootings at Northern Illinois University.
“Tragedies like the Illinois campus shooting emphasize the need for all of us to work together to make our communities healthier and safer,” said Linda Rosenberg, President and CEO of the National Council. “As those charged with serving broad populations and helping communities solve problems, National Council members are providers of education and community support in addition to treatment. Perhaps more than ever before, we must now focus on building the mental health literacy of Americans. We need to ensure that every citizen understands the signs of mental illness and knows how to help when an individual's mental health deteriorates—before a crisis happens,” she added.
National Council experts focus on educating communities on issues such as:
- What kind of mental health issues may people who commit these kinds of crimes be suffering from?
- Are there warning signs to look for in people with mental illness?
- Who can community members who may be struggling in the aftermath of the tragedy turn to for help?
- What kind of mental health counseling for students and community members may be needed?
- What sort of long-term challenges may students and community members face in the weeks, months and years after this tragedy?
Rosenberg also commented, "As the single largest association representing community behavioral healthcare, we offer news and information about common mental illnesses and addiction disorders. We want our public to know that we will help provide insight into the challenges to recognizing, understanding, and treating these mental and health conditions."
Experts are currently available to answer questions. To schedule interviews, contact Communications@thenationalcouncil.org or 301.984.6200, ext. 228.
The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) association of 1,400 behavioral healthcare organizations that provide treatment and rehabilitation for mental illnesses and addictions disorders to nearly six million adults, children, and families in communities across the country.
