Caritas Family Solutions expands mental health services, calls for greater community awareness

As demand for mental health services continues to rise across Southern Illinois, Caritas Family Solutions is urging the community to better recognize the signs of mental health challenges and seek help early – especially during Mental Health Awareness Month.

Caritas Family Solutions Chief Program Officer of Adult Services Anne Riley said growing demand combined with a shortage of licensed mental health professionals is creating a critical gap in care, one the nonprofit is actively working to close through expanded services, education, and outreach.

“We all experience anxiety or periods of sadness, but when it begins to impact your ability to sleep, work, or function day-to-day, that’s when it becomes something more serious,” said Riley. “Everybody has different coping mechanisms to get them through life, but if you don’t have that support system, it is so much harder to get back in the right direction.”

Caritas is responding to this growing need by making access to care more immediate and flexible.

Individuals can walk in, call, or be referred for counseling services, with options for both in-person and virtual therapy.

Following its late-2025 merger with Human Support Services, Caritas has also expanded its continuum of care to include temporary housing, helping individuals stabilize not only their mental health, but their overall living situation.

At the same time, the organization is investing heavily in prevention and education.

Caritas offers Mental Health First Aid training for adults, teens, and youth, equipping community members with the tools to recognize warning signs and respond appropriately.

The nonprofit is also actively working in schools, providing “Signs of Suicide” programming for ninth-grade students and preparing for Illinois’ upcoming requirement for suicide awareness education beginning in fifth grade.

“We’re helping people understand what a mental health crisis looks like and what to do in that moment,” Riley said. “Knowing what to say, or even just how to respond, can make a life-saving difference. The longer someone waits to seek help, the more serious the condition can become.”

Caritas clinicians regularly treat a wide range of conditions, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders. Riley noted that these challenges are often interconnected.

“Untreated anxiety can lead to depression, and in some cases, individuals turn to substance use as a way to cope,” she said. “That’s why early intervention and education are so important.”

In times of crisis, individuals are encouraged to call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, where trained counselors are available 24/7.