Partnership Spotlight: Turning Point Behavioral Health
One of the key ways EPL supports community mental health is through our partnership with Turning Point Behavioral Health Care Center, an outpatient mental health provider that offers compassionate, trauma-informed care regardless of personal circumstances.
A standout feature of this partnership is the Living Room model—welcoming, walk-in spaces for adults in crisis to find calm, clarity, and next steps with the help of trained recovery support specialists. These services are now offered both at Turning Point’s Skokie headquarters and at a new Evanston location on the St. Francis Hospital campus.
In late 2024, the partnership expanded to include the Mobile Living Room (MLR)—a mobile extension of Turning Point’s services that visits the library regularly. Through scheduled weekly visits to the Main Library and monthly at the Robert Crown Branch, the MLR offers in-person mental health support to adults seeking connection and care.
In addition to the MLR, Turning Point’s Mobile Crisis Response Team now hosts a table inside the Main Library three times per week, offering information and services to patrons of all ages. In just the first three months of this partnership, the Turning Point teams connected with more than 100 individuals—many of whom encountered the support simply by walking into the library or passing by on Church Street.
Find details about the Mobile Living Room and the Mobile Crisis Response Team Table at Evanston Public Library HERE. To reach The Turning Point Crisis Line 24/7, call 847-933-9202.
Ongoing Health & Wellness Services
EPL has a long-standing history of offering free and accessible health-related programming, including:
- Free HIV and STI screening, in partnership with Howard Brown Health
- Brain health programs for older adults through our Ageless Grace, WITS Workout, and Active Healthy Aging classes
- Health and nutrition education through series like Wellness Wednesdays, with a rotating focus on topics such as healthy eating and chronic disease prevention
These services aim to empower individuals with practical knowledge and tools to make informed health decisions in their daily lives.
Mental Health Support and Community Resources
EPL also provides a wide variety of mental health-focused programs, many of which are offered on a recurring basis:
- Death Café – A monthly community gathering that provides a safe, respectful space to talk openly about death, dying, and grief
- Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group – Monthly peer support facilitated by trained volunteers from the Alzheimer’s Association
- Impact Behavioral Health – Staff host a monthly drop-in table at the Main Library to share mental health resources and connect with patrons one-on-one
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
988 is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365.
The new 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers access to trained crisis counselors who can help with mental health-related distress, including:
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Thoughts of suicide
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Mental health or substance use crisis
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Any other kind of emotional distress
When you call, text, or chat 988, you will be connected to trained counselors who are part of the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network. These counselors will listen, provide support, and connect you to available resources.
This line is also available for concerned family members and friends.
More information at samhsa.gov, opens a new window
Trilogy’s Mobile Crisis Response Team
FACT is available to help 24/7/365 at 800-322-8400.
Trilogy’s First-response Alternative Crisis Team (FACT) is available to help before, during, and after a mental health event. FACT provides mobile support, stabilization, and more. When you or someone you know needs help, Trilogy is here for you.
What is Trilogy? Trilogy is a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive, integrated care that enables people in mental health recovery to build meaningful and independent lives. Trilogy serves as Evanston's local mental health crisis response team.
What is FACT? Trilogy’s First-response Alternative Crisis Team (FACT) provides support to individuals in crisis when and where support is needed. Trilogy’s mobile crisis response team of mental health professionals will help you stay safe. In addition, they will create a safety plan and determine options for ongoing support.
When to call 9-1-1
If you are in an emergency and require medical help, call 911.
988 provides easier access to the Lifeline network and related crisis resources, which are distinct from the public safety purposes of 911 (where the focus is on dispatching Emergency Medical Services, fire, and police as needed).
Additional Mental Health Resources
If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety and are in need of mental health services, please refer to the following resources: