No Shame On U is dedicated to eliminating the stigma associated with mental health conditions so the people who need the help will seek it, family members and friends will know how to provide proper support, and to save lives.
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from the leadership team Dear Friends, We are delighted to present our 2023 Impact Report, reflecting the incredible strides No Shame On U has made in advancing mental health education and awareness over the past year. In a year marked by unprecedented challenges and an intensifying mental health crisis, No Shame On U has been steadfastly committed to mental health education and awareness. We continue to develop programming and resources that are evidence-based and that connect mental health research to practical and effective coping skills. This year, we launched several new initiatives, including our professional development training programs, and we also began offering our signature workshops to other non-profit and corporate organizations, with the capacity to customize the programming to suit the specific needs of the participants. We have been very fortunate to host undergraduate and graduate interns throughout the year. These interns share with us their insights, talents and passion, and it has been deeply rewarding to mentor them and provide them with tools to navigate their education and career paths. Also, we must highlight that our volunteers are exceptional and continue to be the lifeblood of our organization. Consider becoming a No Shame On U volunteer! We urge you to read through the rest of this report to find out what else we were up to in 2023–and consider joining our efforts in 2024. We are truly humbled by the collective efforts and unwavering support that have propelled No Shame On U toward its mission. Thank you for being integral to our shared vision of a world in which all people prioritize and embrace mental health. Together, we are making our way toward a brighter and more compassionate future. With Immense Gratitude,
Shifra Kolsky Board Chair Shifra@noshameonu.org
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Wendy Singer Executive Director Wendy@noshameonu.org
by the numbers 229
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PARTICIPANTS
1,200
CAMP COUNSELORS TRAINED
2,300+ 47
PARENT CRISIS HANDBOOKS READS
70
MIND & BODY SESSIONS
1,883
EXPERT-LED PROGRAMS
TEENS WITH NEW MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGIES
3,562
PODCAST SUBSCRIBERS
23
35
BLOG POSTS
PARTNERSHIPS
41,000 impact NO SHAME ON U
NO SHAME ON U WEBSITE VISITS
2023 IMPACT REPORT
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resources to share
No Shame On U continues to create and distribute evidence-based resources that promote a positive, pragmatic, and solution-oriented mindset to supporting mental health. If you are interested in learning more, please check out our resource page.
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ING AD ULTS
Thank you to the FOUNDATIONS that supported us in 2023:
Charles & M.R. Shapiro Foundation Crown Family Philanthropies Jewish United Fund Mental Health Initiative with JCFS Chicago Upstart And, of course, thank you to our many individual supporters for your ongoing support!
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testimonials “Thank you so much for the professional
“Thank you for a fantastic
development today! I already borrowed
presentation that lifted
terms in an email to a teacher who
our educators . . . . even
‘leads with a strength based approach
our veteran staff left with
and demonstrates empathy and understanding when supporting students.’ It is such a strong message and reminder to all of us!”
tools for themselves and to use in the classroom.” Dr. B, ELEMENTARY SCHO O L PR INCIPAL
K.M ., M ID D LE S C H O O L D IR ECTO R
“I think what you’re doing is very valuable! Today’s session was tremendously engaging and full of constructive wisdom.” M .L., F EED YO UR MIN D PARTICIPANT
“I look forward to my weekly No Shame On U yoga session. Those 30 minutes help calm my mind. It’s such a great addition to my medication and therapy, and it helps me live well.”
“I learned so much about mental health challenges from No Shame On U. They helped me take a couple of deep breaths and realize that I wasn’t alone. With that, I’ve been so much better at supporting my child.” D.B., PARENT AN D PRO GRAM PARTICIPANT
B.T., YO G A PA RT IC IPA NT
2023 IMPACT REPORT
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we have been busy ccccccccccc
Mindfulness Mindfulness Activity Involves:
Summer Camp Trainings Summer camp is a place in which the resilience and social-emotional skills of children and adolescents can be strengthened. No Shame On U facilitated 17 staff training workshops at 13 summer camps, training over 1200 camp staff! Staff learned how to identify mental health concerns for campers, when and how to communicate concerns with camp leadership, ways to create a caring environment for campers, tips for building resiliency, tools to manage staff burnout, and how to make mindfulness moments at camp. Thank you to the Charles and M.R. Shapiro Foundation for their generous funding in support of this initiative.
Teen Board This past year we launched our inaugural No Shame On U Teen Board, which brought together teen changemakers from across the Chicago area to learn about mental illness and stigma; Teen Board members also learned how to become mental health advocates. Under the direction and guidance of Director of Strategic Initiatives Dr. Anat Geva and Executive Director Wendy Singer, teens spent the year engaging on a wide range of topics including the basics of mental health in western culture, the importance of considering multicultural perspectives, and the social determinants of mental health outcomes. Central to the Teen Board’s work was their collaborative effort designing, developing, and implementing a capstone project of their choice for teens and families titled, Puppies, Painting, & Poses: Non-Traditional Approaches to Mental Wellness. This program provided information about practices that complement traditional mental health treatment modalities and gave attendees the opportunity to sample mini-sessions of animal therapy, art therapy, and yoga. The program was highly impactful, with over 60 people attending and Teen Board members successfully harnessing their new knowledge and skills to spread mental health awareness and reduce the harmful consequences of stigma.
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Podcast If you have not been listening to the No Shame On U podcast, you are missing out! With a focus on all-things mental health, the podcast is hosted by our very own Executive Director, Wendy Singer, and features different guests on each episode. The podcast aims to raise awareness about the many ways mental health and wellbeing intersect with everyday living, with the added goal of ensuring that listeners are aware of the mental health resources available to the public. This past year, the podcast covered a wide range of topics, such as grieving the loss of a family member, early childhood mental health, learning challenges and college success, and peer support. To subscribe or to listen to past episodes, check out this LINK.
Feed Your Mind Building on the previous year’s success, in 2023, No Shame On U continued to offer a free monthly virtual lunch-and-learn, perfect for anyone curious and interested in learning something new about the mental health landscape. To get a taste of what we offered, here are the titles of some our lunchtime programs: • Developing Resilience at Work and in Life: Adopting an Attitude of Gratitude • How to be a Safe Supportive Person to those Struggling with their Mental Health • The Intersection of Mental Health & Disabilities • The Emotional Experience of Pregnancy and Childbirth: Understanding Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Conditions • What is the Deal with Adult ADHD? An Overview & Research-Supported Tools for Thriving • Infant & Toddler Mental Health: Promoting your Child’s Social-Emotional Wellbeing • The Sandwich Generation: Caring for Yourself While Caring for Others These lunchtime sessions were captivating and informative, with participants gaining valuable and useful skills, along with a taste of how No Shame On U pursues the elimination of stigma. For more information about No Shame On U events, please click HERE.
2023 IMPACT REPORT
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a crisis guide
for parents and caregivers In May of 2023, we launched our FREE & Comprehensive Guide - When Your Child is Experiencing a Mental Health Crisis: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers. Authored primarily by Director of Strategic Initiatives Dr. Anat Geva, this handbook was created to empower parents and caregivers of children experiencing their first mental health crisis. When a child is struggling with their mental health, family support is critical for ongoing recovery, but a parent or caregiver may be frightened, overwhelmed, and may not always know what steps to take to help their child. Developed with the input of mental health experts, as well as parents and caregivers with first-hand experience of caring for a child in crisis, this guide was designed to demystify the range of mental health care interventions available and to provide valuable tips for creating a supportive environment during a very stressful time. This handbook has been praised enthusiastically and was highlighted on WBEZ Chicago’s Reset as a valuable community resource. To date, the guide has been accessed over 2,300 times When You from across the nation, with the number of people consulting it increasing daily.
• Individual treatment with a therapist
A GUIDE
F O R PA R
ENTS AN
D CAREG
IVERS
to provide a full-day intensive and structured treatment so the child can focus entirely on their recovery, while still benefiting from living at home
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT (ED)
crisis stabilization
• Length of treatment will taper over time; up to five times/week, approximately three hours/day, six weeks to three months
E
PARTIAL HOSPITALIZATION PROGRAM (PHP)
• Symptoms interfere with the child’s ability to manage daily responsibilities
SIV
to provide a structured partial-day treatment with expanded opportunities for the child to practice their coping skills in their daily home and school environment
EN
• Primarily a group therapy model, but treatment also includes individual and family therapy • Child has serious symptoms which are recurring or disruptive to everyday functioning • Typically five days/week, five to six hours/day, usually three to four weeks • Primarily a group therapy model, but treatment also includes individual and family therapy • Child is experiencing an acute mental health crisis and poses an immediate risk of hurting themselves or others, or they seem to be out of control • Typically, the child’s stay at the ED should be no more than several hours • There is no mental health treatment at the ED, but there is an assessment of risk, followed by a determination of whether outpatient treatment, hospitalization, or a RTC is indicated
stabilization and safety; the goal is not complete recovery but to reduce the risk of harm to self or others.
www.nosham
eonu.org
• Child requires short-term treatment that focuses on decreasing current acute symptoms • Stays usually range from a few days to about one week, 24/7 monitoring • Primarily a group therapy model, but treatment also includes individual and family therapy
MO ST
• Symptoms are too disruptive for the child to live at home, but there is no need for crisis management • 24/7 supervision, typically for one to three months but without intense monitoring • Primarily a group therapy model, but treatment also includes individual and family therapy; academic support is provided, as well
SIV
to provide the child with a supportive intervention in an intense therapeutic environment
EN E
RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER
I NT
CHAPTER 4
• Ongoing therapy, one to four times/month
NT
INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM (IOP)
EMERGENCY INPATIENT HOSPITALIZATION
TREATMENT • Symptoms are mild to moderate
TI
for the child to engage in psychotherapy in order to experience relief from symptoms that prevent them from achieving their full potential for mental well-being
AS
30
GOAL INDIVIDUAL OUTPATIENT THERAPY
LE
Summary of Mental Health Levels of Care
4
r Child is Experienc ing a Mental He alth Crisis
www.noshameonu.org
N O S H A ME O N U A GUID E FOR PARE NTS AND C ARE GIV E R S
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The reviews are in, and the No Shame On U Crisis Guide is a must-have resource for parents and caregivers! “This guide is an invaluable resource for parents, educators, and all adults who are called to support our children . . . . I have turned to this guide to provide common, calming strategies and research-based guidance for my own family, and when I work with families, to provide hope and healing during very painful times.”
“Knowledge is power and knowing what to expect when mental health symptoms interfere with a child’s day-to-day functioning goes a really long way. . . . This crisis guide is a jewel.”
D R . M ., H I G H S C H O O L D I R E C T O R O F STUDENT LEARNING PROGRAMS
D R . S ., C L I N I C A L P S Y C H O L O G I S T
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“The No Shame On U parent crisis guide is incredible and the most comprehensive resource I have come across.” D.G., PAR ENT
spotlight NO SHAME ON U VOLUNTEERS MAKING AN IMPACT:
Linda Haase
Mia Gudgeon
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Executive Vice President & Board Member
I’ve been a corporate communications and marketing professional for 40 years, working with a number of HIV/AIDS organizations and the American Cancer Society before coming to the Jewish United Fund in 1996.
Why are you interested in mental health? One in 10 people will grapple with depression in the course of their lifetimes; I am one of the 10.
Why did you decide to become involved with No Shame On U? I have long believed that if you struggle with your mental health, it’s important to stand up and be counted so that others—especially young people—can see that they aren’t alone. Then COVID made it seem natural to do so. People came to viscerally understand just how much we all need help, at least sometimes. I wanted to do more to take that understanding to the next level—and No Shame On U inspired me as the place to do it.
What is a recent No Shame On U accomplishment that excites you? This year, No Shame On U was unsurpassed in meeting teenagers where they are, literally and figuratively, helping them live resiliently and more comfortably in their own skins.
Teen Leadership Board Member
I’m a senior at Highland Park High School. Last year, I was a member of the No Shame On U Teen Leadership Board. This year, I’m a Teen Board mentor; I provide guidance and support to help younger teens create community mental health programming. It’s a really fulfilling experience.
Why are you interested in mental health? I have struggled with anxiety and depression my entire life, so I know it’s important to learn healthy coping strategies and how to ask for support.
Why did you become involved with No Shame On U? No Shame On U’s mission resonates deeply with me, both because of my own personal struggles, and also because this past summer, my best friend died by suicide. This was devastating, and it inspired me to do more. Through the Teen Board, I gained a community of like-minded teens and acquired tools necessary to reduce the stigma.
When you are struggling, what strategies help you cope? Petting my dog, Tico, is one of my go-to strategies when I’m down or anxious. This makes sense; through the Teen Leadership Board, I learned there’s research showing that interacting with pets increases levels of feel-good hormones.
2023 IMPACT REPORT
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Annual Event
what an incredible night! On Sunday, November 5, 2023, nearly 400 friends – old and new – gathered together for the No Shame On U Annual Event - A Tour of the Emotional Brain: A Roadmap to Health. Volunteers, professionals, community leaders, and partners connected, socialized, and learned about the brain science of mental wellness from our keynote speaker, Northwestern University Professor Dr. Robin Nusslock. Dr. Nusslock’s positive message stressed that we can have some control over our brain’s health by engaging in four evidence-based practices: • Connect with others. Meaningful social relationships help us. It is not the number of friends we have; it is the quality of the time we spend with others. • Prioritize physical activity. Taking walks, playing a sport, enjoying an outdoor activity, dancing, yard work — any of these can help maintain brain health.
A Tour of Your Emotional Brain: A Roadmap to Health
• Engage in lifelong learning. One quality of people whose brains remain fit well into old age is engaging in stimulating activities like reading, learning new things, and remaining interested in and curious about the world around us. • Tame your stress. Stress is a significant contributor to physical and mental health ailments. Engaging in healthy stress reduction – eating and sleeping well, and exercise can help. Mindfulness practices have been shown to reduce stress and improve emotional regulation.
Robin Nusslock, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychology, Neurobiology, & Neurology Northwestern University
Consistent with the No Shame On U mission, Dr. Nusslock also stressed how important it is to work toward the elimination of the shame and stigma of living with mental illness. It was a wonderful event, highlighting how important it is to normalize the conversation about mental health.
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we are grateful to our annual event sponsors ANGEL SPONSOR
PA RT N E R S P O N S O R
Michael Choffnes & Family of Rose Choffnes
Bruce Butler Betty Cohen Compass Health Center CreateOn Elrod Friedman, LLP Linda Forman Karen & Jay Goodgold Amy Kaufman Bonnie Lane, The Family Support Services The Lutz Family MISSD - The Medication Induced Suicide Prevention and Education Foundation in Memory of Stewart Dolin Montrose Behavioral Health Hospital Robyn Duberstein, Newport Healthcare Daniel Orenstein & Associates, PC Debbie & Marc Pershan Deborah Hamilton & Jim Rosenberg Susan & Marc Sacks Becky & Gil Soffer Temple Beth Israel Temple Jeremiah
DIAMOND SPONSOR
Susan & Joseph Ament P L AT I N U M S P O N S O R
Miriam Ament & David Forman GOLD SPONSOR
Anonymous Shifra & Yitzchok Kolsky S I LV E R S P O N S O R
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - Illinois Chapter Linda Haase & Joel Cohen in memory of Shira Davis Laurie & Andrew Hochberg Linda & Richard Price BRONZE SPONSOR
Niva & Jeremy Ament Amy & Jonathon Ament Embellishable The Family Institute at Northwestern University Margalit & Jordan Feiger Leon & Zipporah Goldstein Foundation Dr. Heidi Kramer & Dr. Jason Kramer Rogers Behavioral Health Rabbi Marianne Novak & Dr. Noam Stadlan CHAMPION SPONSOR
Dr. Sharon Perlman & David Haase Mosaic Construction, LLC Much Shelist, PC Nissa Pekin Hardy Strauss Wealth Management Relative Value Partners Valley National Bank
FRIEND SPONSOR
Chava Alpert & Michael Bloom Nathan & Anita Benditzson CityPads Charles Cohen Margaret & Lee Cohen Chicago Jewish Day School Evolve Giving Group Sheri Young and Dr. Neil Fialkow Jennifer & Stewart Flink Dr. Wendy Schiffman & Dr. Michael Fogel Froum Law Group, LLC Ashlyn & Dani Gorlin Tamara & Jeff Groman
Rabbi Sid & Rabbi Debbie Helbraun JCC Chicago JCFS Chicago Heidi & Eli Kalman Keshet Linda & Stuart Kupfer La’briut Melanie S. Levine, PhD, PLLC Maggie’s Place at Mishkan Chicago Majax Consulting Sara L. Manewith Moriah Behavioral Health Teen Treatment Rachel & Hillel Morris Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute for Mental Health Education at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology Sandy Starkman & Larry Pachter Paradigm Legal Group Karen Reitan Alyne Rolfe Judy & David Rosen Sandra Schimmel Jody & David Schmidt Deborah Shub & Ayal Tovian Wendy & Mitch Singer Marion Schmidt & Steve Singer Solomon Schechter Day School of Metropolitan Chicago Michael Oxman & Doug Winkelstein Yachad Chicago Yellowbrick Foundation Mara Zimmerman COMMUNITY SUPPORTER
The Balance Project Chicago Playback Theatre Ensemble Hinda Institute Options for College Success PEER Services SketchPad
2023 IMPACT REPORT
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Want to get involved in eliminating the stigma of mental illness? Here are some ways you can help out:
get involved
SUPPORT those living
SPREAD THE WORD
with mental health
about No Shame On U
symptoms and conditions.
to ensure everyone is aware
Don’t know how?
of the toll mental health
Please reach out to No Shame On U!
struggles take on people
ATTEND No Shame On U
living with or supporting
programming.
those with mental illness.
The more you know, VOLUNTEER with No Shame On U. We are certain you have skills to offer in destigmatizing mental health conditions.
the more skilled you will be in normalizing
MAKE A DONATION
the conversation about mental health. For more information, please check out www.noshameonu.org.
so we can fulfill our mission and continue to develop evidence-based and innovative resources and programming
STAFF
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Wendy Singer, MS Executive Director
Neil Fialkow, MD Psychiatrist, Private Practice
Judy Rosen, MS Interim Executive Director, 2023
David Forman Founding Board Member
Anat S. Geva, JD, PhD Director of Strategic Initiatives
Aryn Froum, PhD Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Private Practice
Chicago, IL 60640
Miriam Ament, MA Founder and Executive Director Emerita
Heidi Kalman, MSW Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Supervisor, The Josselyn Center
NSOU@noshameonu.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Melanie Levine, PhD Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Private Practice
Nathan Benditzson Gail Berger Darlow Linda Haase Rachel Kamenir Shifra Kolsky, Board Chair Bonnie Lane Hillel Morris Rebecca Pogonitz Daniel Warshawsky
Michael Simon, MPP Executive Director, Northwestern University Hillel
4411 N. Ravenswood Ave. Suite 300 877-275-7261 www.noshameonu.org Facebook
Doug Winkelstein, MEd Director of Learning and Development, BBYO
If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress, text or dial 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. 988 supports people who call for themselves, as well as those who call in order to support others. In the event of a life-threatening emergency, call 911 immediately.
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