July has been designated as National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is observed each July to bring awareness to the unique struggles that racial and ethnic minority communities face regarding mental illness in the United States.
The theme for Minority Mental Health Awareness Month 2025 is “Turn Awareness into Action!” This theme encourages individuals and organizations to move beyond simply being aware of mental health disparities and take concrete steps to address them. It emphasizes the importance of advocating for change, supporting those affected, and promoting culturally-competent mental health care for minority communities.
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.
● In 2021, it is estimated that only 39% of Black or African American adults, 25% of Asian adults, and 36% of Hispanic/Latino adults with mental illness were treated, compared to 52% of non-Hispanic white adults.
Racial and ethnic minorities often suffer from poor mental health outcomes due to multiple factors, including lack of access to quality mental health care services, cultural stigma surrounding mental health care, discrimination and overall lack of awareness about mental health.
Through hard work and dedication of their psychiatric nurse practitioner, clinic and school-based mental health therapists, and mental health nurse; The Health Department’s First Choice Healthcare is pleased to be able to offer this support to all members of our community.
The Henry and Stark County Health Departments remind students and parents that August is almost here. In preparation of that, the First Choice Healthcare Clinics are offering sports and school physical exams appointments throughout the summer.
First Choice Healthcare will offer school and sports physicals at all their locations at a cash price of only $40. Those with insurance coverage, please bring insurance information if billing to insurance. Appointments are available at their clinics in Kewanee, 110 N. Burr Blvd. 309-852-5272; Colona, 103 First St. 309-792-4011; and Toulon, 120 E. Court St. 309-852-3115.
The clinics will offer area junior high and senior high school athletes, freshmen, sixth graders, kindergartners and preschoolers school or sports physicals. Please note, to help reduce wait times, arrive with your physical forms (obtained through your local school districts) already completed.
The First Choice Healthcare Clinics encourage parents to call early for their appointments; and avoid the end of the summer rush.
Parents make sure your children are up-to-date on their required immunizations before school begins this fall. Immunizations, TB checks; blood lead screenings, and other needed lab tests are also available to participants at additional charges. The First Choice Healthcare Clinics have all immunizations that are required for school entry as private pay vaccines. Please call for eligibility, costs and for vaccine availability.
In addition, the Health Department reminds area parents that certified copies of birth certificates for children born in Henry County since 1971 can be obtained through their office at 110 N. Burr Blvd., Kewanee. The charge for obtaining birth certified copies is $13 for the first copy and $6 for each additional copy.
For more information, visit their website at here.
The Henry and Stark County Health Departments remind residents that our continued wet, humid and warm summer weather can mean an increase in our local mosquito population.
The Culex mosquito is the most common vector of West Nile virus and other viral illnesses. The Culex mosquito relies mostly on artificial containers for breeding sites. An artificial container is anything that will hold water for more than four to five days. Enormous numbers of mosquitoes are produced day after day in such containers.
Therefore, the Health Department offers the following information on how to decrease the number of possible mosquito breeding sites and the potential health risks associated with mosquito bites.
For more information on West Nile virus or mosquito control measures, call the Health Department at 309-852-0197 or visit their website at www.henrystarkhealth.com.
The Henry and Stark County Health Departments and the Get Covered Illinois Navigator Program asks, “Do You Need Health Insurance?” Their Health Insurance Navigators will be present at some upcoming local event to assist anyone looking to set up health insurance coverage:
Colona Township Hall Building, 801 1st St., Colona, IL
Friday, August 1 from 1 – 3 p.m.
“Get Covered Illinois” Navigators can help you:
● Find affordable health coverage that meets your needs
● Fill out and submit your application
● Compare quality health plans side-by-side
● Find out if you qualify for financial help to lower your monthly premium
● Find out if you qualify for Medicaid or an affordability program
● Understand your benefits
● Understand health insurance terms
Remember you may be eligible to enroll in a Get Covered Illinois health plan outside of the usual Open Enrollment, or make changes to your existing coverage, if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). The SEP may require you to enroll within 60 days of a Qualifying Life Event. A qualifying life event is a life change, such as:
Loss of Health Coverage, due to:
● Losing job-based coverage
● Losing Medicaid coverage
● Losing Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors or Health Benefits For Immigrants Adult coverage
● A divorce or legal separation
● Turning 26 years old, no longer eligible for parents’ coverage
Other Qualifying Life Events include:
● Getting Married
● Having a baby or adopting a child
● Moving to a new ZIP code or county
● Becoming a US Citizen
● Leaving incarceration.
For more information on this Get Covered Illinois Navigator Event or assistance in enrolling in a Get Covered Illinois Healthcare Marketplace, call 309-852-5272.
