City of Evanston

Mental Health

24-Hour Help Line for Information and Intervention Call 1-800-322-8400 to find help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Emergency Mental Health Services (EMHS)

EMHS provides a 24-hour crisis telephone line for Evanston residents. EMHS provides counseling, either by telephone or in-person, to help reduce the immediate emotional stress. When necessary, EMHS can provide face to face mental health assessment and assistance. The staff can meet the caller at home or in some other agreeable site to discuss intervention options. When a problem requires the help of other professionals, the staff can refer the caller to those services. If necessary, transportation can be arranged for the caller to reach hospitals or other crisis services.

When a person calls EMHS, a trained professional is available to talk, to assess their needs and options, and to help obtain further assistance. EMHS helps individuals with severe personal and family problems, including loss of an important relationship, mental illness, depression, anxiety or thoughts of suicide.

Assistance provided by Trilogy, a local provider of behavioral health care services. Service arranged by the Evanston Local Area Network (ELAN) in cooperation with the Metro North Network of the Office of Mental Health.

Evanston Mental Health Board (MHB)

MHB was adopted by a local referendum in 1969. The MHB consists of nine community members who are appointed by the Mayor to plan, fund, coordinate and evaluate local community-based services for: 1) individuals with psychiatric impairment; 2) individuals with developmental disabilities; and/or 3) individuals who abuse alcohol and/or other drugs. The MHB allocates funds to community agencies through contracts for specific programs; monitors and evaluates Evanston agencies that provide mental health services; and provides advocacy services to facilitate, expedite, and/or change systems to ensure provision of services.

Mental Health Services

Mental Health Service provides staff support to maintain the Mental Health Board's (MHB) operations. Contract administration and performance monitoring are provided for the MHB's Community Purchased Service agencies that receive funds from the board. Information and referrals are provided about local agency services, and other mental health programs. Short-term intervention and case management are made available for people in crisis. A directory of services is published about all of the community's services. Assistance is provided to individuals to find whatever services are needed, whether in Evanston or through programs in other communities.

In the summer of 2002, the Evanston City Council adopted a recommendation from the Human Services Committee and the Evanston Mental Health Board to consolidate the City of Evanston’s Community Purchased Service budget and the MHB’s Purchased Service Allocations. This MHB manages this consolidated funding process. They are accountable for allocating, monitoring, and evaluating the use of local tax dollars to purchase broad based human services, for both mental health and general social service issues, for Evanston residents (community purchased services).