Health roundup for May 9

Mental Health Week highlights the need for care

May 5-11, has been designated as Children’s Mental Health Week. This nationally recognized observance aims to increase public acceptance, educate communities, and expand the general public’s understanding of children’s mental health needs and its resulting impact on their parents, caregivers and families across the lifespan.

Children’s Mental Health Week allows all of us to celebrate children of any age while promoting the importance of their mental health as well as their need for services and acceptance that support recovery, resilience, and success for children and their families.

Consider the following children and youth mental and behavioral health facts:

● 1 in 6 US youth experience mental illness each year, and only half of them receive treatment.
● 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
● Among US Adolescents (aged 12-17) – 1 in 6 experienced a major depressive episode in the last year.
● 3 million US Adolescents had serious thoughts of suicide.
● The average delay between onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years.
● 60% of Americans are concerned about the stigma and around mental illness.

With limited resources for mental health in our community it is now more important than ever to provide individuals with the behavioral and mental health support they need. The Henry and Stark County Health Department’s psychiatric nurse practitioners, mental health therapists, nurses and supportive staff are pleased to be able to offer this support to our community.

For more information call First Choice Healthcare in Kewanee at 309-852-5272; visit their website at www.henrystarkhealth.com.

Health Departments pay tribute to nurses during National Nurses Week

May 6-12 has been proclaimed National Nurses Week. In honor of this important health observance the health department salutes their dedicated nurses.

“Patients often recognize that a nurse is the health care professional with whom they and their families have the most direct contact. But they might not realize that nurses also are leaders in improving the quality of care and expanding access to care. That’s why May 6-12 is celebrated as National Nurses Week.” said RaeAnn Tucker, director of Health Promotion.

This year’s theme, “The Power Of Nurses,” recognizes and celebrates ways in which nurses lead the charge of health and wellness. The theme honors the incredible nurses who embody the spirit of compassion and care in every health care setting.

Whether you’re a health care professional, a patient, or simply someone who appreciates nurses’ dedication; this is your chance to express gratitude and support for their capability and fortitude. By coming together to celebrate Nurses Week 2025 and showing our appreciation for these extraordinary professionals

The Health Department nurses are key players in all areas of the Health Department: Clinical Services, Mental Health, Primary Care, Communicable Disease Control, WIC, Case Management and Health Education. The Administration of the Henry and Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare encourages everyone to join with them in saluting nursing professionals everywhere.

For more information on the services of the Henry and Stark County Health Department and their First Choice Healthcare Clinics call Kewanee 309-852-5272, Colona 309-792-4011 or Toulon 309-852-3115 or visit their website at www.henrystarkhealth.com.

May is Clean Air Month: Health officials urge radon testing for safer homes

May has been proclaimed Clean Air Month, and May 4-10 is designated Air Quality Awareness Week.

The Health Department believes these two important health observances are a good time to remind local residents that radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer overall and the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers. Therefore, the Health Department has radon home test kits available for purchase at a cost of $15 per kit through their offices in Kewanee, Colona and Toulon while supplies last.

Many people don’t even know that radon gas is such a health threat. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas present in the soil and water that can build up to dangerous levels in the home. Radon gas is odorless, colorless, tasteless, and invisible and the only way to know if a home has a radon problem is to test for it. Breathing radon can increase the risk of lung cancer. If you are a smoker, your risk is even more heightened.

Radon gas is found in 65% of homes in Henry County and 82% of homes in Stark County. Radon is a Class A human carcinogen, meaning there is actual evidence that exposure to radon causes lung cancer. It is the cause of 20,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States annually.”

Testing your home is the only way to know if you have elevated levels of radon. If radon levels, above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) action level of four picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L), are detected in your home; the Health Department can provide you with information regarding radon mitigation on their website at www.henrystarkhealth.com or through their Environmental Health Division.

For more information on the $15 radon home testing kits call their location nearest you Kewanee 309-852-0197; Colona 309-792-4011; and Toulon 309-852-3115.