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June 2025 Public Health E-Newsletter 

Let's talk about men's health

June 10 - 16 is Men’s Health Week. The American Heart Association states that, nationally, more than one in three adult men have some form of cardiovascular disease, and African-American men are significantly more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than Caucasian men. Men have traditionally been reluctant to pursue medical care when health concerns arise. Additionally, men are less inclined than women to undergo routine preventive screenings and regular health examinations with their medical providers. 

Of men who took the Oak Park Community Health Survey, 29% reported high blood pressure and 35% reported high cholesterol. High blood pressure and high cholesterol are dangerous cardiovascular risk factors that often work together to significantly increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease. High blood pressure forces your heart to work harder and damages artery walls, while high cholesterol causes fatty plaques to build up in arteries, narrowing them and restricting blood flow. When combined, these conditions can lead to blocked arteries, organ damage and life-threatening cardiovascular events, often without warning symptoms until serious complications occur.

Men can avoid the risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease by making some lifestyle changes, visiting a doctor for regular health screenings, and taking steps to avoid infections. 

1. Recommended lifestyle changes include: quitting tobacco, daily exercise, eating a heart-healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, keeping stress levels low and getting enough sleep.
2. Visit your doctor to check blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and to screen for type 2 diabetes. 
3. Avoid infections, which can worsen existing heart problems. Your doctor can help you stay current on vaccines, and regular visits to your dentist will help avoid gum disease.

Happy Pride Month!

Happy Pride Month from the Oak Park Public Health Department!

One of our fantastic local resources in Oak Park is OPALGA+, an LGBTQ+ organization that has provided community connection and support for more than 35 years.

OPALGA+ is celebrating Pride Month in a big way this year throughout the month. Head to its webpage to learn more about the “Out at Bobby’s”  Pride Month Kick Off Happy Hour on June 5, Oak Park's Out in the Burbs Pride celebration on June 7, the June 12 outing to the Cubs Pride Game and the group’s monthly potluck on June 13.

Catch us in the Community!

Visit our Opioid Overdose Response Trainer at the Farmers’ Market Info Tent from 9 a.m. to noon this Saturday, June 7 to talk about responding to an opioid overdose, including the use of Narcan nasal spray. Free Narcan will be available.

The Market is held in the parking lot of Pilgrim Church at 460 Lake St. 

We also offer a free, more comprehensive 90-minute training. Visit the opioid overdose training registration form here! More training dates are added as they are planned.

National HIV Testing Day, June 27

Approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV, but about 13% of them don’t know it and need testing. For all sexually active people, knowing your HIV status puts the power of your health in your hands. Do you know your status? If not, we encourage you to speak with your healthcare provider, who can offer you an HIV test.  The Brown Elephant at 217 Harrison St. offers HIV testing on the third Tuesday of every month from 2 to 6 p.m. It’s important to note that birth control methods like a birth control pill or an IUD do not protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. A barrier method like condoms, which are available for free from the Public Health Department and at the Brown Elephant, or a medication like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), is needed to prevent HIV transmission. We can help you locate a way to be tested or provide you with free condoms if you don’t know where to start. Contact the Public Health Department at 708.358.5480 or health@oak-park.us. We will never share your personal information.

Resources for Oak Parkers in mental health crisis

Starting a conversation about mental health does not need to be awkward, and it can make all the difference to someone important in your life. We encourage you to check in with friends and loved ones, and this site has great tips and conversation starters. It can also be helpful to know the resources in our community so you can share.

Below are some mental health resources that are available to anyone in Oak Park. 

9-1-1 For assistance in life-threatening situations where immediate physical safety or medical intervention is required, call 9-1-1. The purpose of 9-1-1 is to dispatch emergency responders — including police and firefighter/paramedics — to provide immediate assistance in a wide range of urgent situations. Its scope is broader than mental health crises, focusing on any emergency that requires physical, on-site intervention.

The 988 Lifeline is the national hotline for people who need mental health services in a crisis. You can call 988 at any time, or you can start a text chat. To chat in English, simply text a message to 988. To chat in Spanish, text AYUDA to 988. Professionals are available to speak to anyone experiencing a mental health crisis. The 988 Lifeline is available 24/7.

Thrive Counseling Center, located in Oak Park, offers its own free, local crisis line at 708-383-7500, extension 1. The local crisis line is open 24/7 for individuals in the community who are struggling with mental health challenges or emotional distress. While it operates similarly to 988, it is different because the professionals who answer are local and have knowledge of local resources. Thrive Counseling Center can see individuals in person during business hours as well. It's located at 120 S. Marion St. in Oak Park and is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday.

NAMI Drop-in Center, located at 814 Harrison St. in Oak Park, is open from 1 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. No appointment is necessary. The Drop-in Center is not designed to respond to mental health crises. Instead, its purpose is to provide support and help people who are struggling with their mental health build skills, create solutions and socialize. These activities can help participants stay out of crisis.