mental and behavioral health

Transportation remains one of the biggest barriers to accessing behavioral health services, especially in rural areas.

Shorter wait lists, better transportation and a stronger workforce are some of the needs advocates say will improve youth behavioral health services in the Peoria area.

Dr. Samuel Sears, the consult psychiatrist for OSF Saint. Francis Medical Center in Peoria and director of physician services for the behavioral health service line, says the unfortunate reality of the situation is that there’s currently a great mismatch when it comes to the need for mental health services and the people available to provide that care.

In his latest monthly interview with WCBU, Peoria City Manager Patrick Urich says it’s unclear whether the city has any legal authority to block a potential carbon capture pipeline.

Battling an eating disorder looks different for every person who struggles with it. It's an ongoing fight for many, including in the Peoria area.

Mental health impacts everyone differently, but some communities face disparities that can take a much bigger toll on their mental wellness, or call for extra things to consider when deciding when and if to seek treatment.

Beth Martinez lost her younger brother, Ben Bloom, almost six years ago from suicide after years of struggling with mental health. Ben was 37 years old when he died. Here, Martinez shares about who Ben's life was and the impact his death made.

Mental health challenges aren't just an adult problem. The issue is also profound for children and their families. That's true in the Peoria area, where pediatric hospitalizations for behavioral health reasons are higher than the state average.

According to the 2022 Community Needs Health Assessment survey, the percentage of people reporting “poor” mental health doubled in the past three years to 16%.

A new bill plans to change how Peoria Police respond to behavioral crisis calls by adding mental health care workers to their emergency team. If it succeeds in Peoria, it has the possibility of becoming the standard statewide.