By: Ashmar Mandou
According to Agenda Alliance, over 1 in 5 women experience a mental health condition annually, with women being twice as likely as men to experience depression and anxiety disorders. “Women are the caretakers, and often times their health is placed on the backburner,” said Vanessa Parrish, director of the Cicero Health Department. “This is our way of giving them a space where all their needs are met.”
Parrish is referring to Cicero’s upcoming Women’s Wellness Event this month, which coincides with Mental Health Awareness, where attendees can enjoy a day of pampering from haircuts, to manicures, while receiving pertinent health information and services with the help of vendors, such as Loyola Medicine, Aetna, Access to Care, and the Cicero Health Department to name a few. “We have held this event for several years now, but in the last two years we decided to restructure the format and have it be more engaging for the women to receive health screenings, to connect them to much-needed resources, and follow-up with them after the event to ensure they are receiving the proper care. This is a one-stop shop, essentially for women to address all their medical needs and concerns,” said Parrish.
The Women’s Wellness Event is sponsored by President Larry Dominick, the Board of Trustees and the Cicero Health Department and will be held on May 14th from 3p.m., to 6p.m., at the Cicero Community Center, 2250 S. 46th Ave., Cicero, IL. The event is free. “We are creating an experience that is health-centered focus, from screenings to mental-health services, and we hope we are creating an impact on the lives of women. We encourage women to come and spend an afternoon with us,” said Parrish. If you have questions, call 708-656-3600 ext. 147 or email healthclinic@thetownofcicero.com for more information.