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DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board to mark 50th anniversary with training courses

The Midweek - 8/2/2017

DeKALB ? Thursday marks the 50th anniversary of the first meeting of the DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board. The board honored the occasion by proclaiming July 27 is Mental Health Awareness Day in the county.

Officials have been recognizing the anniversary all year, but the board's executive director, Deanna Cada, brought to light a partnership with Northwestern Medicine for a series of training programs to certify members of the public in mental health first aid.

"It's like learning CPR for mental health, and anyone can be trained," Cada said. "We're not training people to be therapists. We're just training to help someone who may be in distress or crisis."

The next program is from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Aug. 25 at the Five Seasons Room of the DeKalb County Community Outreach Building, 2500 N. Annie Glidden Road. Cada said the training is free, and it typically costs anywhere from $25 to $50.

The board also is planning a World Mental Health Day event Oct. 10 at the Egyptian Theatre in downtown DeKalb to properly define mental health and bring awareness to available mental health resources.

The organization also is in need of a new board member to serve a four-year term. Interested candidates must be residents of DeKalb County and cannot be employees or board members of any agencies funded by the board.

"The board is committed to membership that reflects the diversity of the county population, including geographic location," Cada said.

The board meets once a month, and members are encouraged to serve on a committee once a month, as well.

Those wishing to apply can submit a letter of interest to Cada or administrative assistant Kath Ostdick at 2500 N. Annie Glidden Road, Suite B, DeKalb. Cada said a tentative deadline for submitting letters is Aug. 12.

For information, contact Cada at 815-899-4960 or dcada@dekalbcounty.org, or Ostdick at 815-899-4970 or kostdick@dekalbcounty.org.