Stress is how the brain and body respond to any demand such as performance at school, a significant life change or a traumatic event, to name just a few. Everyone experiences stress from time to time. Stress is normal. There are different kinds of stress and all kinds can carry physical and mental health risks. Not all stress is bad. It is important to manage our stress and ask for help when we are overwhelmed.

Anxiety is your body’s natural response to stress. It’s a feeling of fear or apprehension about what’s to come. The first day of school, giving a speech, taking a test are some examples that may cause people to feel fearful and nervous.

Grief is the acute pain that accompanies loss. Grief is not limited to death. We can also experience grief as a result of divorce, someone we care about moving away or incarceration, among other causes.

Suicide is a major public health concern. over 48,000 people died by suicide in the United States in 2018. Suicide is complicated and tragic, but it is often preventable. Knowing the warning signs for suicide and how to get help can save lives.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for English; 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish

Crisis Text Line – text HELLO to 741741

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. It includes such actions as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.

LGBTQ+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or sometimes questioning), and others. The “+” represents other sexual identities. The “plus” is important because it is used to signify all of the gender identities and sexual orientations that are not specifically covered by the other five initials.

Get Immediate Help in a Crisis:

• Call 911
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for English; 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish or Lifeline Crisis Chat – text HOME to 741741
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text LOVEIS to 22522
• DCFS Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-252-2873
• National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or Online Chat