Executive Summary
Community Survey Results
Mental Health
If you answered somewhat or very hard, why do you think it would be hard to get treatment or care in Wayne Township?
Other responses
- Very difficult to find good information. Lack of community education
- No services available when we needed
- Some comments that the Township shouldn't be involved in mental health issues
What type of mental health support service is not available in Wayne Township?
Most responders were not sure.
Responses given
Substance Use
If you answered "somewhat hard" or "very hard", why do you think it would be hard to get treatment or care in Wayne Township?
Other responses
- Too few success stories
- Some comments that the Township shouldn't be involved in substance use issues
Please note that several people took the survey before the option to select multiple options was fixed and so some were only able to select their top choice.
What type of substance abuse support service is not available in Wayne Township?
Most replies were unsure.
Other responses
Developmental Disabilities
If you answered "very hard" or "somewhat hard", why do you think it would be hard to get treatment or care in Wayne Township?
Other responses
- Wouldn't know where to go or call if I needed this service. No roadmap telling me what to do.
- Too confusing and stressful
- Illinois badly underfunded for developmental disability assistance
- No one at township could direct for support
- Not enough providers and lack of support for individuals with physically aggressive behaviors. Wait lists are long and it's a very politically driven process rather than focusing on creatively supporting the individual with a DD.
- Wait times for services outside of school hours were a huge issue. Wait lists were excessive, like a year long.
- School didn't provide
What type of support service for people with developmental disabilities is not available in Wayne Township?
Most answered they didn't know, however many had ideas:
Biggest Issues & Needs
Overall, what are the biggest issues or needs related to mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities in Wayne Township?
- 22More information provided to citizens on where and how to find care
- 9Cost
- 9Not enough professionals to meet the needs / Long wait lists
- 4Mental health for young children
- 4Stigma
- 4Depression / Anxiety
- 2Access to care
- 2Local support groups
- 2Develop a community "Wellness Hub" offering drop-in counseling, group therapy, and stress management programs
- 2Transportation
Additional responses
- Services for adults with DD after age 22 (when schools no longer provide services)
- Alcohol abuse
- Help navigating technology to find providers
- Services for autistic kids and families
- Coordinator for financial services and eligibility
- Centralized way to find providers in Wayne Township
- Prevention and Early Intervention
- Partner with schools for mental health screenings, counseling and resilience training
- Provide teacher and staff training to identify early signs of depression, anxiety, or violent ideation
- Offer parent workshops to help recognize and address mental health or substance abuse concerns early
- Launch peer mentor programs in high schools and colleges to support students at risk
- Loneliness for seniors
- No housing/treatment centers in the area
- Substance use: legal and illegal
- Speech and Occupational therapy
- Online gambling
- Online porn
- Holistic care
- Lack of support from employers
- Inpatient hospitalizations are not long enough
- Proactive mental health resources (not just when a problem arises)
- Substance use education for young people
- Crisis Prevention and Response
- Establish a crisis intervention team combining mental health professionals with police and EMS
- Set up an anonymous tip and text line for community members to report concerns safely
- Create a short-term crisis stabilization center as an alternative to hospital ER visits
- Partner with local employers to provide workplace stress programs, burnout prevention workshops, and on-site counseling
- Offer accessible stress management activities such as yoga, meditation, and mindfulness sessions at little or no cost
- Lack of law enforcement for drug sales and abuse
- Stress and overworked in order to survive with our cost of living
Improving Quality of Life
Related to mental health, substance use and disabilities, what could be done to improve the quality of life in the community?
- 26Increase awareness of services and how to access
- 9More affordable / providers that take Medicaid/Medicare
- 6Increase the number of providers
- 5Reduce stigma through education
- 5Support groups / family therapy
- 3Transportation
- 3Residential programs for substance abuse rehab
- 2Mental health reps at local events
- 2Day program for adults with DD
- 2Exercise / recreational activities for improved mental health
- 2Access to care
- 2Stricter law enforcement
Additional responses
- Senior services
- Dietician to give guidance
- Drop in center for referral
- Seminars for loved ones
- Help poor or marginalized communities
- No more vape shops or cannabis stores
Demographics
Including yourself, how many adults 18 years old and older live in your household?
How many children ages 17 and younger live in your household?
Is a language other than English primarily spoken in your home?
Yes: two Spanish, one Gujarati and one Tagalog
Take the summary with you
The full executive summary is available as a document, and the other survey is summarised on its own page.
