Impact Report
2026
Creating Resilient Communities to Support Mental Health A ME SS AG E FROM LEA DERSHIP This was a year of growth, new partnerships, and important planning for No Shame On U’s future. We expanded our work in schools and communities, including a new partnership with Communities In Schools (CIS) of Chicago that brought no-cost mental health programming to students across the city. We strengthened our Teen Leadership Board and created more opportunities for young people to build skills, support one another, and lead conversations about mental health. We also developed new programs and resources in response to emerging needs. This included programming on the mental health impact of antisemitism, expanded mental health training for camps, and new educational resources such as our guide, Breaking the OCD Cycle. Most importantly, we adopted a new strategic plan that sharpens our focus on young people ages 11–25 and those who support them, while laying the groundwork for continued growth. That work is already shaping what comes next, including a comprehensive new teen mental health guide planned for FY2027. In addition, we are deeply grateful to the partners, teen leaders, volunteers, donors, professionals, and community members who made this progress possible. Together, we are building communities where more people have the knowledge, confidence, and tools to respond when someone is struggling.
Wendy Singer Executive Director
Linda Haase Cohen Board President
T H A N K Y O U T O O U R F U N D E R S Our work is made possible through the generous support of: BeWell/Chicago Resiliency Round Table · Charles & M.R. Shapiro Foundation · Crown Family Philanthropies · JUF Chicago Leon and Zipporah Goldstein Foundation · Leon Legacy Fund · Masonic Family Health Foundation · Max Strus Family Foundation The Perlman Family Foundation, founded by Anita and Louis Perlman · The Senser Foundation · SBB Research Group Foundation · Upstart
F Y 2 0 2 6 AT A G L A N C E
Community Impact 6,000+
160+
Programs, workshops, trainings, and community events
Parents, educators, professionals, and other adults equipped with mental health tools
60+
3,375+
Countries accessing our resources
Virtual resource library views
90% WHAT PEOPLE 89%
TOLD US
89%
281,000+
35,000+ Website pages viewed
121,000+ Social media reach and engagement
Rate No Shame On U as a trusted source for mental health information and resources Would recommend No Shame On U to others Say No Shame On U makes them more likely to seek help for themselves when they need it
PROGRAM AND EVENT ATTENDEES
Behind every number is a person who learned something new, found language for an experience, gained confidence in helping someone else, or discovered a resource that could make the next step easier.
SINCE NO SHAME ON U BEGAN
People engaged since OUR IMPACT OVER TIME 269,000+ No Shame On U began 2
NO SHAME ON U
2 0 2 5 - 2 0 2 8 S T R AT E G I C P L A N
A Bold Response: Our Path Forward In FY2026, No Shame On U adopted a new three-year strategic plan to guide the organization’s next stage of growth. At its center is a sharpened focus: supporting young people ages 11–25 and the people and communities that support them with tools to understand, talk about, and respond to mental health challenges.
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MEET EVOLVING NEEDS
GROW OUR REACH
BUILD FOR GROWTH
SUSTAIN THE WORK
Programs Resources Partnerships
Visibility Communications Community
People Technology Data
Philanthropy Capacity Long-term Strength
Expand evidence-informed programs, resources, and partnerships that respond to the mental health needs of young people and those who support them.
Increase No Shame On U’s visibility through strategic partnerships, stronger communications, and deeper community engagement.
Strengthen staff, technology, systems, data, and evaluation so we can grow thoughtfully and measure our impact.
Build a stronger culture of philanthropy and diversify resources to support No Shame On U’s long-term future.
Over the next three years, No Shame On U aims to reach
40,000+ young people and those who support them.
Empowering Youth. Engaging Networks. We are working toward a future in which young people have the knowledge and support they need, the people around them feel equipped to respond, and mental health conditions are understood, prioritized, and free from stigma.
2026 IMPACT REPORT
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Partnerships Multiply Impact No single organization can meet every mental health need. That is why collaboration is central to No Shame On U’s work. In FY2026, we worked alongside schools, mental health providers, camps, community organizations, and clinicians to extend our reach, deepen our expertise, and connect people with relevant information and support. Some partnerships helped us reach new audiences. Others brought specialized expertise, created ongoing spaces for support, or helped us respond to the needs of particular communities. Together, these relationships allowed each organization to contribute what it does best— and helped No Shame On U make a greater impact.
REACH
COMMUNITY
Partners bring mental health education and resources into the places where people already learn, work, gather, and build community.
Collaborators help us develop programs and resources that reflect the experiences and needs of different communities.
Collaborators & Community Partners Organizations and experts that worked alongside No Shame On U through co-created programming, consultation, shared expertise, community initiatives, and other forms of collaboration. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention American Camping Association – Illinois Anxiety Professionals of Illinois
EXPERTISE
CONNECTION
Clinicians and subject-matter experts help us translate complex mental health topics into information that is accessible, practical, and useful.
Strong relationships create clearer pathways between mental health education, support, and additional care when it is needed.
Canines 4 Comfort Clarity Clinic Communities In Schools of Chicago Consulting Camp LLC The Family Support Services Hebrew Seminary The Hinda Institute Hope For The Day JCFS Chicago MISSD
Our Approach is Simple Greater impact does not come from doing everything ourselves. It comes from bringing together the right people, expertise, and communities.
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NISSA SHALVA SHFT Behavioral Health SketchPad Chicago Spertus Institute True Mind + Body Therapy / Art of Wellbeing
Reaching Students Through Partnership NO SHAME ON U + COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF CHICAGO Communities In Schools of Chicago (CIS of Chicago) connects Chicago Public School students and school communities with programs, resources, and relationships that help students learn, grow, and thrive. In FY2026, No Shame On U joined CIS of Chicago’s network of community partners, creating a new pathway to bring accessible, stigma-reducing mental health education directly to students in Chicago schools.
What We Bring into Schools No Shame On U provides engaging, age-appropriate mental health programming that helps students better understand common mental health challenges while giving them practical tools they can use in everyday life. Sessions are designed to disarm stigma, normalize conversations about mental health, and build practical coping skills around issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout. Through interactive discussion, activities, and concrete strategies, students learn how to recognize when they or someone else may be struggling, ways to support their own well-being, and when and how to reach out for additional help. Programs are offered at no cost to participating CIS of Chicago schools, helping make high-quality mental health education accessible across a wide range of Chicago school communities.
Better Together CIS of CHICAGO
Connects schools with community partners and resources
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NO SHAME ON U
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Brings practical mental health education, tools, and conversations into schools
Students better equipped to understand, talk about, and respond to mental health challenges
CIS of Chicago Partnership Impact
54
SCHOOL PROGRAMS
1,600+ STUDENTS
130+
EDUCATORS & STAFF
Together, CIS of Chicago and No Shame On U are making practical mental health education more accessible within the school communities where young people learn and grow.
2026 IMPACT REPORT
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ENGAGE
Taking the Conversation Further Mental health education does not happen in just one format or setting. Throughout FY2026, No Shame On U extended this work through storytelling, conversations, training, and programming responsive to what young people and their communities are experiencing. STORIES THAT BUILD UNDERSTANDING
The No Shame On U Blog
Our blog combines lived experience with practical mental health education. HIGHLIGHTS
SCRUPULOSITY
A five-part series exploring the intersection of OCD, religion, and mental health.
HOW THERAPY STOPPED BEING BS FOR ME
A candid young adult perspective on moving from skepticism to finding value in therapy.
EQUIPPING THE ADULTS AROUND YOUNG PEOPLE
Mental Health at Camp No Shame On U worked with day and overnight camps to help staff recognize mental health concerns, respond appropriately, reduce stigma, and know when additional support is needed.
23 CAMP PROGRAMS 950+ STAFF TRAINED 4,300+ CAMPERS REACHED
This year, we welcomed Camp Ben Frankel and Skokie Park District Camps as new partners, extending this work to more camp communities. W H AT W E H E A R D “I really liked the training...[I] genuinely learned something new!” - Day Camp Counselor “I appreciated the acknowledgement of the stress of being a leader and providing coping strategies.” - Overnight Camp Counselor
CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER
The No Shame On U Podcast
RESPONDING TO REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES
In FY2026, Gadi Kalman became No Shame On U’s new podcast host, bringing a young adult mental health advocate’s perspective to candid conversations about what young people are experiencing and what can help.
In FY2026, No Shame On U worked with middle and high school students to explore how antisemitism can affect young people’s sense of safety, identity, belonging and well-being.
Episodes explored asking for help, depression and anxiety, masculinity and stigma, youth advocacy, and new approaches to mental health support.
Antisemitism & Mental Health
Students examined how antisemitism fits within broader patterns of bias and discrimination while also understanding what can be distinct about the Jewish experience. They also explored how antisemitic experiences can affect thoughts, emotions, and stress—and learned practical strategies for coping and seeking support. IDENTITY. BELONGING. SAFETY. MENTAL HEALTH. “What I love about this program is that it meets [teens] exactly where they are: it’s not about politics . . . it’s about mental health.” - S.W., Middle School Educator “As someone who isn’t Jewish, this training opened my eyes to aspects of antisemitism I hadn’t understood before and helped me see more clearly how discrimination affects mental health and belonging. It’s really valuable for anyone who cares about inclusion.” - J.S., Educator
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EQUIP
Tools People Can Use Turning complex mental health information into practical guidance.
No Shame On U creates guides, videos, and other tools that make mental health information clearer, more approachable, and easier to use in real life. EXAMPLES This year, we developed resources in different formats so people can learn in the ways that work best for them— from in-depth guides to short, engaging videos.
Breaking the OCD Cycle
H³: A Different Way to Learn
A practical guide to understanding OCD
A video that turns a simple idea into a usable skill
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is often misunderstood. Breaking the OCD Cycle helps readers recognize and better understand OCD while offering clear, practical information about what can help.
Mental health education doesn’t have to feel like a lecture. H³ uses an engaging video format to make mental health concepts relatable, memorable, and easier to discuss.
The guide explains the cycle of obsessions, anxiety, and compulsions; addresses common misconceptions; and helps readers understand evidence-based approaches to treatment and support.
UNDERSTAND THE CYCLE
What OCD can look and feel like.
At its center is one simple question:
Do you need to be HELPED, HUGGED, or HEARD? HELPED Problem-solving or practical support HUGGED Comfort and connection HEARD Listening without judgment or fixing H³ teaches teens to ask what someone needs rather than guess—giving them a simple, concrete way to support a friend who is struggling.
WATCH. ASK. RESPOND.
RECOGNIZE WHAT HELPS
How certain responses can unintentionally reinforce OCD—and what can help instead.
Introducing the H3 Method
KNOW WHERE TO TURN
Treatment, support, and next steps.
2026 IMPACT REPORT
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EDUCATE
From Understanding to Support Starting the conversation is only the beginning. Reducing stigma remains fundamental to No Shame On U’s mission. But once the conversation begins, another question follows:
What do I do now? No Shame On U turns mental health awareness into practical learning—helping people understand what they may be seeing, how to respond, what coping strategies can help, and when to seek additional support.
WE HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
Recognize what may be happening and when additional support may be needed.
RESPOND
Build confidence in what to say, what to do, and how to support someone appropriately.
Feed Your Mind Highlights Through our free monthly Feed Your Mind series, participants hear from experts and leave with practical information they can use. Click here to explore all of our FY2026 Feed Your Mind sessions.
HELP! ONCE-A-WEEK THERAPY ISN’T CUTTING IT FOR MY CHILD
Helping families recognize when outpatient therapy may no longer be enough and understand IOP, PHP, and other next-step treatment options.
PICKING BATTLES
Helping participants better understand body-focused repetitive behaviors, when to seek support, and what treatment options are available.
MORE THAN A BEST FRIEND: DOGS AS MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
Exploring the connection between animals and mental health, including the ways animals can support emotional well-being and connection.
CAMP READY
Supporting parents and caregivers in preparing young people—and themselves—for the emotional transition to camp.
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COPE
Learn practical strategies for managing stress and supporting emotional well-being.
CONNECT
Know when and how to seek additional support.
Young People Leading Change Teens are not simply the audience for our work. They help shape it. During the 2025–2026 school year, high school students from across Chicagoland came together monthly to build the knowledge, skills, and confidence to change how mental health is understood and discussed in their communities.
LEARN → QUESTION → PRACTICE → LEAD LEARN
How do you know when someone may need help? Teens learned to look beyond a single moment and consider: INTENSITY • DURATION • IMPACT • CONTEXT
QUESTION
How do we contribute to stigma—without realizing it? Teens examined how language, assumptions, and stories can reinforce stigma—or help reduce it.
PRACTICE
What does support actually look like? Through discussion and real-world scenarios, teens practiced supporting a struggling peer, encouraging help-seeking, and recognizing when something is beyond what a friend should handle alone.
LEAD
How do we take what we learned beyond the room? Teen Board members applied their learning through peer and community programming, culminating in: • COFFEE & CONVERSATIONS Let’s Talk About Mental Health • A teen-led Mental Health Awareness Month event designed to make meaningful mental health conversations more approachable.
A SPECIAL CONVERSATION
Adri’s Story Finding Confidence, Connection, and Support Behind every program, workshop, and resource is an individual experience. Adri’s story reflects the kind of confidence, connection, and practical support we hope young people carry with them into their everyday lives.
“I finally felt truly seen.” Adri Lieberman, a senior at Evanston Township High School, is in her fourth year on the No Shame On U Teen Leadership Board. “Being part of the Teen Board has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my teen years. It’s a space where I can be myself, talk openly about mental health, and know that the people around me understand.” Recently, Adri was diagnosed with severe anxiety and minor depression. Hearing those diagnoses was difficult, but it also brought a sense of relief. “Once my parents and closest friends knew, I finally felt truly seen. It helped them understand more about what I experience in my daily life.” One Teen Board tool that has stayed with Adri is Helped, Hugged, Heard (H³)—a simple framework for asking what kind of support someone needs in the moment.
During one session, Teen Board members met with NBA Los Angeles Clippers player Max Strus, who spoke candidly about pressure, anxiety, and the reality that even professional athletes have difficult days.
“It has changed how I support my friends, and it has also helped me recognize what I need when my own day isn’t going so well.”
The connection continues through the Max Strus Family Foundation, whose generous support is helping No Shame On U expand school-based mental health programming across Chicago.
“I’m proud to be part of something that makes it easier for teens to talk about mental health, support one another, and remember that none of us has to go through hard things alone.”
For Adri, Teen Board is both a place to learn and a community where young people can grow together.
F Y 2 0 2 6 AT A G L A N C E
24 Teen Leaders | 16 High Schools | 12 Leadership Sessions | 1 Teen-Led Community Program 2026 IMPACT REPORT
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Building Connections, Nuturing Well Being Our 2025 Annual Event In October 2025, hundreds of supporters gathered for No Shame On U’s annual event, Building Connections, Nurturing Well-Being, featuring psychologist, educator, and author Dr. Doug Bolton. Dr. Bolton shared practical, research-informed strategies for strengthening connection, reducing isolation, and helping young people build resilience. His central message reflected a theme that runs throughout No Shame On U’s work:
Connection is not separate from mental health. It is part of mental health. At a time when young people can feel increasingly isolated despite being constantly connected, Dr. Bolton challenged attendees to be intentional about creating homes, schools, camps, and communities where young people feel seen, supported, and connected. The evening brought together supporters, partners, and community members to learn, connect, and leave with practical ideas for strengthening relationships with the young people in their lives.
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Donors & Sponsors
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS WORK POSSIBLE
We are deeply grateful to the donors and sponsors whose generosity fuels our work. DIAMOND SUPPORTER
$20,000+ Susan & Joe (z”l) Ament
PLATINUM SUPPORTER
$10,000–$19,999 Miriam Ament & David Forman Wintrust Bank
GOLD SUPPORTER
$5,000–$9,999 Anonymous
Kathy Kirn & David Levinson Much Shelist, PC
SILVER SUPPORTER
Kimberly Freeland
NISSA
La’bruit
Elrod Friedman, LLP
Ronit & Daniel Ripes
Melanie S. Levine, PhD, PLLC
Ellen V. & Philip L. Glass
Judy & David Rosen
Maggie’s Place at Mishkan Chicago
Dr. Sharon Perlman & David Haase
Rothman Law Group
The Man of Silver
Dr. Laurie & Andrew Hochberg
Daniel Rothner
Gayle Malvin
Nancy Hoffman
Karin Shapiro
David Joel
Lauren & Aaron Singer
Judith Miller, In Memory of Gabriel Miller
Heidi & Jason Kramer
Deborah Shub & Ayal Tovian
Richard Magid
Vasundhara Tolia
Courtney E. Mayster
Ami Vora
Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
Heidi McCann, The Craftsmen Group
FRIEND SUPPORTER
Lisa Pevtzow
Pekin Hardy Strauss Wealth Management
$2,500–$4,999 Anonymous
Sharon & Daniel Schwartz
Amy & Jonathon Ament
The Skidelsky Family
Niva & Jeremy Ament
Valley National Bank
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Illinois Chapter
Natasha Vladimirskiy
Linda Haase Cohen & Joel Cohen Shifra Kolsky Gail O’Connor, O’Connor Family Law, PC Carol & John McKinnon Lloyd Perlow Linda & Richard Price
BRONZE SUPPORTER $1,500–$2,499 Orley & David Desser
Deborah Sher Dubow & Jeffrey Dubow Emerson & Elder, PC Deborah & Larry Levinson Orenstein & Associates, PC Debbie & Marc Pershan Marion Schmidt & Steve Singer Rabbi Marianne Novak & Dr. Noam Stadlan
CHAMPION SUPPORTER $1,000–$1,499 Susan Abrams Caren Adler Barbara & Ronald Ament Eric Emerson Enso Wellness Center Nancy & Maury Fertig
Wendy & Mitch Singer
PARTNER SUPPORTER $500–$999 The Barkoff Family
Kim Miller Newport Healthcare Sandy Starkman & Larry Pachter
$250–$499 Abbott House
Jodi Phillips Bev & Ira Piltz
Laura & David Allswang
Chase Poffenberger
Ellen Sachs Alter Anxiety Professionals of Illinois, PLLC Heather Aranyi
Rebecca Pogonitz The Prugh Family REACH Chicago
Evan Axelrod
Dr. Cindy Zadikoff & Ilan Rodzynek
Kalman Benjamin
Deborah Hamilton & Jim Rosenberg
Rivka & Michael Benjamin
Sue & Len Rubin
Chantal & Ron Blaustein Susan Block
Jennifer & Abe Ryder
Dr. Danielle Dever & Dr. Jeremy Burnham
Jeannette Said
Compass Health Center
Mark Schaffel
Margalit & Jordan Feiger
Clarity Clinic
Caren & William Schuman
Linda Forman
Lauren & Jared El-Mofty
Lori & Russell Shapiro
Wendy Frank
Sheri Young & Dr. Neil Fialkow
Ling Shi
Morton Genson
State Senator Laura Fine
Kimberly Shwachman
Drs. Esther & Benjamin Geva
Dr. Wendy Schiffman & Dr. Michael Fogel
Lacey & John Sikora
Footprints to Recovery Patti & Michael Frazin
Solomon Schechter Day School of Metropolitan Chicago
Joshua Fruchter
Dr. Sarah Diamond Steuerman
GIA Healthcare Chicago
SunCloud Health
Merav & Dov Goldman
Temple Beth Israel
Brenda Grauer
Tikvah Center for Jewish Recovery and Healing
Calibrē Wellness City Pads
Bill Glickauf Judy & Ari Golson Drs. Irene & Joshua Goldstein Karen & Jay Goodgold Carey & Adam Hechtman JCC Chicago Judy & Richard Katz Amy Kaufman Edy & Jacob Kupietzky Bonnie Lane, The Family Support Services Annabel Levine Ken Miller MISSD – The Medication-Induced Suicide Prevention and Education Foundation in Memory of Stewart Dolin
Skyway Behavioral Health
Adina & Kevin Greenberg Andrew Hamilton
Rachel Tzinberg
Hebrew Seminary: A Rabbinical School for Deaf & Hearing
Michelle Warner Julie Weinberg
Dr. Marla & Robert Israel
Val Weiss
JCFS Chicago
Michael Oxman & Dr. Doug Winkelstein
Maureen & Harold Katz Keshet KOVAL Distillery
Yachad Chicago Lila & Ted Yusen
2026 IMPACT REPORT
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Looking Ahead The next chapter is already taking shape. FY2026 strengthened the foundation for No Shame On U’s next stage of work. In the year ahead, we will continue finding practical, engaging ways to help young people—and those who support them—better understand, talk about, and respond to mental health challenges.
Our Priorities Include . . . STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS
DEEPENING YOUTH LEADERSHIP
SUPPORTING STUDENT-LED MENTAL HEALTH EFFORTS
CREATING PRACTICAL RESOURCES
Empowering youth. Engaging networks. Disarming stigma. NO SHAME ON U
MISSION STAFF Wendy Singer, MS Executive Director
Anat S. Geva, JD, PhD
Director of Strategic Initiatives
No Shame On U is dedicated to reshaping attitudes about mental health, elevating conversations, and disarming stigma. We support young people— as well as those who support them—with tools to understand, talk about, and respond to mental health challenges.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
CONTACT US
Neil Fialkow, MD
4411 N. Ravenswood Ave.
Psychiatrist, Private Practice
Ira Finkel, MSW
Alec Hopmayer, MSW
Owner & Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Anxiety Professionals of Illinois, PLLC
Jessica Hulten, MA
David Forman
Mental Health Educator Director of Outreach
Miriam Ament, MA
Founder and Executive Director Emerita
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Deborah Sher Dubow Linda Haase Cohen, President Dr. Marla Israel, Vice President DarLynn Kauffman, Treasurer Shifra Kolsky, Secretary Bonnie Lane Courtney E. Mayster Kimberly Miller Dan Orenstein Lloyd Perlow Lori Shapiro
Suite 300 Chicago, IL 60640 877-275-7261 NSOU@noshameonu.org www.noshameonu.org
Founding Board Member
Aryn Froum, PhD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Private Practice
Heidi Kalman, MSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Supervisor, The Josselyn Center
Melanie Levine, PhD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Private Practice
Michael Simon, MPP
Executive Director, Northwestern University Hillel
Doug Winkelstein, EdD
Executive Director, The K’ilu Company
YouTube
If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress, text or dial 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 988 supports people who call for themselves, as well as those seeking support for someone else. In the event of a life-threatening emergency, call 911 immediately.