Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital

11/28/2025

🌿 Sometimes healing doesn’t start with treatment. It starts with someone who simply listens.

When one of our patients found themselves overwhelmed and vulnerable, Kaylei — a member of our Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health team — didn’t offer a quick fix. She offered something rarer: presence.

🧡 She sat.
🧡 She listened.
🧡 She stayed.

In a moment of sadness and frustration, Kaylei helped this patient feel safe enough to ask for support, to give themselves kindness, and to continue healing.

It’s a beautiful reminder that care isn’t always clinical — sometimes, it’s just being human with each other.

This is what compassion in action looks like. This is what we’re grateful for.

At Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, we provide personalized mental health treatment plans.

11/27/2025

Wishing you a blessed and peaceful Thanksgiving. 🧡

Hear from Larry Spicer, Ascension’s Associate Vice President of Security, on what it means to live Thanksgiving every day through gratitude and service.

11/25/2025

At Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, healing doesn’t always begin with words.

🎨 Holly, one of our incredible art therapists in the Expressive Therapy Department, uses creativity as a bridge between reflection and recovery. Through wood carving and nature-inspired portraits, she offers more than a moment of beauty—she offers patients a moment of relief.

As Holly describes it:

“The rings and grain of the wood tell the story of the tree. I try to understand the wood in front of me instead of forcefully carving into it... One co-existing with the other—respecting each other’s stories.”

🧠 In a season where gratitude and reflection come into focus, we are so thankful for teammates like Holly—who help others see their own resilience through art, connection, and compassion.

This Thanksgiving, may we all take a moment to reflect, slow down, and recognize the beauty in our own stories. 💛

11/24/2025

🧡 Gratitude doesn’t just happen around the table. Sometimes, it looks like hairnets, scoops of soy protein, and a shared purpose.

This holiday season, nearly 40 Ascension Illinois associates, leaders, and Foundation board members rolled up their sleeves at Feed My Starving Children in Schaumburg—hand-packing over 18,000 meals for children in need across 70 countries. 🌎✨

The impact?
🥣 18,360 meals packed
📦 851 boxes ready to ship
👧🏽 50 children fed every day for an entire year

It’s easy to be thankful for what we have—but it’s powerful to act on it. We’re so proud of this team for showing up with full hearts and open hands, turning service into sustenance for kids around the world.

Moments like these remind us: compassion doesn’t pause for the holidays. It keeps showing up. And so will we. 💕

11/21/2025

✨ “I just like making differences. And this seemed like a really good spot to do that.” — Danielle, Administrative Assistant at Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital

In a world that often feels chaotic, Danielle is a calming presence for families navigating autism spectrum and developmental disorders.

🖍️ From coloring sheets for kids to feel-good feelings boards…
🎨 From handmade decorations to handmade empathy…
💬 From stressful moments to small breakthroughs…

Danielle’s care is found in the little things. And in behavioral health, little things are everything.

Every child she welcomes. Every parent she supports. Every detail she remembers. That’s how healing starts.

This is what compassion looks like. 💫

At Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, we provide personalized mental health treatment plans.

11/19/2025

🧡 Mental health care doesn’t end at the therapy door. It continues with compassion—and sometimes that means a meal.

At Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, we’re leaning into the season of giving by stocking our micro-pantries with the items our community needs most. With SNAP benefits reduced nationwide, many of our own behavioral health clients are directly impacted.

And our associates? They’re answering the call. 📦

From brown bags in every department to car trunks overflowing with donated food, our teams are showing that healing starts with kindness.

💡 Drop-off outside the cafeteria. Donations go straight to those we serve.

✨ Every can. Every box. Every act of generosity—it all counts.

11/17/2025

What makes a strong leader? At Ascension Illinois, we believe the answer starts with mental wellness.

On November 13, we were honored to join the Schaumburg Business Association Leadership Luncheon—where Dr. Lacey Lemke, Psy.D., from Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, delivered a powerful message to over 50 business and community leaders.

Her talk challenged the traditional definition of leadership—and reminded every person in the room that strength doesn’t mean silence. It means presence, authenticity, and the courage to care for your own well-being as deeply as you care for your teams.

💼 Strategies for resilience
💬 Tools for self-awareness
🤝 Steps to build mentally supportive workplaces

Thank you to Dr. Lemke for the energy, vulnerability, and expertise she brought to this important conversation—and to Divine Signs and Graphics, Inc. and the Schaumburg Business Association for welcoming Ascension as a proud partner.

When leaders lead with mental health in mind, everyone moves forward. 👣

11/14/2025

Diabetes doesn’t just live in the body—it lives in the mind, too.

It lives in the quiet anxiety before every meal.
In the mental math of tracking sugar, sleep, movement, meds.
In the invisible weight of doing everything “right” and still not feeling okay. 🧠💉💔

At Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, we see the full picture.

On World Diabetes Day, we want you to know: if your diagnosis is affecting your mental health, you’re not alone—and you’re not overreacting.

🌙 Mood swings
📉 Burnout
🍽️ Eating stress
💬 Overwhelm from never-ending decisions

They’re all real. And they’re all part of the conversation we’re here to have—with empathy, without judgment, and with a plan that meets you where you are.

Because your healing isn’t just physical. And your support system should reflect that. 💙

11/11/2025

🌱 Some people find their calling once. Melissa found it twice.

Before she became a nurse in behavioral health, Melissa worked as a massage therapist and aesthetician. But her fascination with mental health never left her. She returned to school, earned her BSN, and has spent the last 3.5 years at Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital walking alongside patients in our outpatient group practice.

She was there when we introduced TMS therapy. And when ketamine therapy was launched, Melissa helped lead the way — one patient, one breakthrough, one moment of hope at a time.

💬 "So many of our patients have gone through horrendous things, yet their determination to get better is awe-inspiring... it’s empowering to advocate for them — not just in the hospital, but in the community, too.”

🫂 Her patients receive not only care, but they also feel seen. From helping young moms reconnect with joy to celebrating milestones that once felt impossible, Melissa blends science, compassion, and purpose every single day.

👣 And in her words? The journey is just beginning.

11/07/2025

🎉 This National Radiologic Technology Week, we’re celebrating the imaging professionals at Ascension Alexian Brothers, because without them, modern medicine would be missing its eyes. 👀

💡 From high-resolution 3D mammograms to wide-bore MRIs that ease patient anxiety, our radiologic technologists do far more than take pictures. They:

✨ Spot cancers early, sometimes before symptoms even show.
✨ Monitor heart, lung, and bone conditions with precision.
✨ Provide critical imaging for trauma care in minutes.
✨ Adapt procedures for patients with mobility, sensory, or weight concerns, ensuring everyone gets dignified, accessible care.

🖥️ And while their tools are advanced, it’s their human touch that patients remember most—calm voices explaining a scan, warm blankets on cold tables, kindness in moments of fear.

🎯 At Ascension Alexian Brothers, we’re proud to offer high-quality imaging like:

💗 3D Mammography
🦴 DEXA bone scans
🧠 CT scans up to 450 lbs
💊 1.5T MRI with wide bore
💻 Digital X-rays and ultrasound

🏥 To our techs, sonographers, aides, and radiology nurses: thank you for combining science, art, and compassion in every scan. You help us see what matters most.

11/07/2025

🎉 During National Radiologic Technology Week, we’re putting the spotlight on the people behind the scan.

At Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago, our imaging teams are the ones you trust when you need answers fast. They’re the calm in the chaos, the precision behind the care, and the experts making sure every scan tells the full story.

🛠 Whether it’s an X-ray at 2 a.m., a nervous patient in for their first mammogram, or adapting a scan for someone with limited mobility—this team shows up with skill and compassion.

Here in Chicago, our services include:
✅ CT scans
✅ MRIs
✅ Mammograms
✅ DEXA scans
✅ Ultrasounds
✅ X-rays
✅ Nuclear medicine studies

From head trauma to heart health, broken bones to early cancer detection—imaging makes it possible. And the team at Ascension Saint Joseph - Chicago makes it exceptional.

🌟 To every tech, nurse, aide, scheduler, and support staff: thank you, for all that you do in helping people take the next step forward in their care.

11/07/2025

🎁 Holidays can be magical—but they can also be a lot.

Whether this season brings you joy, stress, grief, or all of the above, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to just “get through it.”

Join us for a free holiday wellness webinar filled with real talk and practical tools to help you:

✨ Manage stress without guilt
✨ Set boundaries with grace
✨ Connect meaningfully (including with yourself)
✨ Make space for peace, not pressure

From caregivers and clinicians to anyone craving clarity this season—this session is your space to reset.

🧠 Bonus: This webinar is approved for continuing education (CE) in Illinois for LCSW/LSW, LCPC/LPC, APN/RN/LPN, and Psychologists.

📅 Dec 17, 2025 03:00 PM
🖥️: Link in comments!
✅ Free + open to all

Join us for practical strategies and heartfelt insights to help you navigate the highs and lows of the holidays with balance and joy. From managing stress and setting boundaries to finding genuine connection and self-care, this guide empowers you to move beyond just "getting through" the season - an...

11/07/2025

🎃 From spooky stickers to surprise friendships—Halloween on Pediatrics was full of treats (and just a few tricks)!

Our pediatric unit turned into a little world of joy, complete with reverse trick-or-treating from our amazing nursing staff, crafts, costumes, and a much-requested four rounds of Halloween Bingo streamed into patient rooms. 🧡🕸️

What made it even more special? The kids who met as strangers over bubble hockey and left as friends—connected not by their hospital stay, but by the fun they had while here.

Huge thanks to our community for donating treat bags, craft kits, and Halloween goodies. Because of you, our patients got to be kids first—not just patients.

🧡 Here’s to creating moments of normalcy, laughter, and connection that last long after the costumes come off.

📸 Swipe to see how we turned pain into play this Halloween at Ascension Saint Alexius.

11/06/2025

🐝 Being Exceptional Every Day looks like this.

When Lauren Crumble walks onto a unit, everything changes. She doesn’t just lead groups—she creates safe spaces. She doesn’t just know patients—she sees them. And her coworkers? They know she’s someone they can count on, every single time. 🎯

🧠 Whether it’s a tough day or a big breakthrough, Lauren shows up with care that’s calm, present, and deeply human. She adapts when things shift. She listens without judgment. She makes people feel safe, seen, and supported.

💬 From the nomination:
“Her passion and kindness shine through in all that she does and all of her interactions.”

Congratulations, Lauren, on being our newest BEE Award honoree. You make this ministry better, and we’re lucky to have you. 💛

11/06/2025

🍽️ November is Stomach Cancer Awareness Month—a time to spotlight the tools, teams, and people working to detect this disease earlier and treat it better.

🎯 At Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago, Dr. Bipan Chand is part of that front line.

As a board-certified gastrointestinal surgeon and advanced endoscopist, Dr. Chand specializes in robotic and laparoscopic surgery as well as high-precision endoscopic procedures—often used to detect precancerous changes before they become something more serious.

With a focus on patient goals, multidisciplinary planning, and outcomes that don’t compromise quality of life, Dr. Chand brings together modern tools and human care.

🧠 This month is about awareness. And awareness means more than statistics. It’s knowing what’s possible when the right hands, the right technology, and the right kind of listening come together.

💜 To those navigating a gastric cancer diagnosis—or supporting someone who is—we’re here for you.

11/05/2025

🔓 No appointment. No referral. No excuses.

✅ Starting now, walk-in mammograms are available Monday–Friday, 8am–3pm at Ascension Alexian Brothers & our imaging location in Addison.

Because early detection isn’t just a recommendation, it’s a lifeline.
And sometimes the hardest part is just getting it scheduled. 📆

Now? Just walk in. 👣

From 3D imaging to personalized risk assessment, we’re here with real tools, real care, and real time made for you.

💗 Tell your mom. Text your group chat. And while you’re at it, go for yourself, too.

Care teams at Ascension Illinois in the greater Chicago area provide mammograms to screen for breast health and help detect signs of breast cancer.

11/04/2025

😵‍💫 One kid’s wide awake at 5am. Another’s melting down by dinner. And somehow, you're expected to make it all work.

The seasonal time change doesn’t just shift clocks—it disrupts moods, routines, and emotional rhythms.

This is exactly the kind of moment Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital is here for.

Because the goal isn’t perfection—it’s surviving this season without burning out.

📖 Read the full piece in the Daily Herald and see how to prep your home, your kids—and your own nervous system—for the “fall back” season: http://ascn.io/6188ACSm0

11/03/2025

💊 Addiction isn’t abstract. It’s personal, it’s local—and it’s happening in our communities.

At the Schaumburg Business Association’s “Fentanyl & Narcan: Essential Information” event, leaders from Ascension Illinois Foundation, Community Health, and Ascension Medical Group came together to learn, listen, and act.

Pharmacist Kelly Kretzer, PharmMD, RPH delivered a powerful presentation on overdose trends, fentanyl’s rising impact, and how to identify and respond to an overdose using naloxone.

👏 Every attendee walked away with step-by-step guidance—and a renewed understanding of how critical education is in the fight to save lives.

📍 Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital remains a committed resource for substance use and addiction recovery in our region.

Because the more informed we are, the more lives we can protect.

11/03/2025

🍼 When you’re expecting, you’re not just planning for delivery—you’re navigating a world of options, advice, and decisions that can feel anything but simple.

That’s why our community made sure families in Hoffman Estates have more than just a place to give birth.

At Ascension Saint Alexius, we’re a Baby-Friendly designated facility—and that means every part of your experience is built to support connection, comfort, and confidence.

💜 Guided by research
💜 Focused on bonding, breastfeeding support, and informed choice
💜 Built around your birth plan—whether it’s midwife‑led, OB‑guided, or high‑risk

🤱 From midwives and OBs to NICU teams and high-risk care, our birthing center is ready for whatever your journey looks like—and always starts with what matters to you.

The rest of the country is now being asked to meet this standard.
Thanks to you, we’re already there.

👶 Baby‑Friendly care starts here. Always has.

11/01/2025

On Halloween, we celebrate fear like it’s a costume. But for many, fear is far more personal—and it doesn’t disappear on November 1. 📆 👻

It’s the fear of losing control.
Of being seen.
Of asking for help.
Of food, your body, or the next panic attack you can’t explain.

At Ascension Illinois, we know fear shows up in real ways—like anxiety, eating disorders, depression, trauma, and more. And just like we treat physical wounds with care, we believe mental and emotional wounds deserve the same attention.

That’s why across Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital and Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago, we offer whole-person mental health care—around the clock, across specialties, and without judgment.

🧠 Inpatient Eating Disorder treatment
🎨 Art & music therapy
💬 Group + individual counseling
🌿 Support for addiction, OCD, mood disorders & more
⚡ ECT + TMS services
🧑‍⚕️ A team that actually listens

Because fear doesn’t make you weak—and facing it doesn’t mean doing it alone. You deserve a care team that knows how to walk through it with you. 👣

📍 Find support across Chicagoland
📞 855-383-2224 (Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital) | 773-665-6509 (Ascension Saint Joseph - Chicago)

10/31/2025

🎃 Tips AND Treat! 🎃

🦴 Stiff or achy joints? Physical therapy can improve mobility and ease joint pain, keeping you active and moving smoothly at any age.

😳 Worried about back problems like herniated discs? Physical therapy builds core strength and supports spine health, helping to prevent injuries and avoid surgery.

🌪️ Feeling unsteady or dizzy? Physical therapy can boost your balance and coordination, reducing the risk of falls for everyone, from teens to seniors.

💦 Bladder issues or pelvic discomfort? Physical therapy helps strengthen and relax pelvic muscles, offering relief and improving daily comfort.

🔥 Chronic pain making life difficult? Physical therapy creates personalized, drug-free solutions to get you back to living fully, no matter your stage of life.

🎥 TREAT: Enjoy this Halloween dance from our full multidisciplinary Rehab team, spreading smiles and spooky spirit!

10/31/2025

🎃 Pumpkins aren’t the only thing getting carved this season—so are moments of joy, connection, and creativity.

At Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, our annual pumpkin carving tradition isn’t just about celebrating fall. It’s about creating space for expression, laughter, and healing—reminding us all that small moments of creativity can offer big support for our mental health.

🏅 This year’s Pumpkin Contest Winner?

Miss Kandy Corn, crafted by our incredible Access Department—using an impressive 7 pounds of candy corn! 🍬 Their creativity shines as brightly as their commitment. The Access team is here 24/7, assessing patients and ensuring everyone in our community receives the compassionate care and support they need.

🎨 Arts and activities like these are part of the care we offer every day. Whether someone’s navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, or just feeling overwhelmed—we meet them where they are, with programs that treat the whole person: mind, body, and spirit.

💕 Because mental health care isn’t one-size-fits-all. And sometimes, the right care looks like a group of people sitting around a table, carving out something meaningful—together.

📍 Free assessments available 24/7 in Hoffman Estates
📞 855-383-2224

10/30/2025

😳 The lump she almost ignored.
The pain she chalked up to stress.
The delay that could’ve cost her everything.

Breast cancer doesn’t always arrive with warning signs—and when it does, early detection changes everything.

That’s why at Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago, breast care means more than a mammogram.

🧠 It means being seen by a team that knows what to look for—before you even know to ask.
🏥 It means NAPBC-accredited care, right here in Lincoln Park and Lakeview.
🧭 And it means having a navigator by your side, helping you know what’s next before fear can fill in the blanks.

Because catching it early doesn’t just save lives—it gives them back.

Care teams at Ascension Illinois in the greater Chicago area provide mammograms to screen for breast health and help detect signs of breast cancer.