Illinois officials raise awareness around youth MH resources

Cook County, Illinois, officials called attention to youth mental health and the importance of local mental health resources last week for Mental Health Awareness Month, WTTW News reported on May 27. “We are in the middle of a mental health crisis, particularly with our young people,” Cook County Commissioner Tara Stamps, who represents portions of the west side and the west suburbs, said during a news conference. “Our children are both imploding and exploding at the same time.” According to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, “Mental health support has been underfunded, overlooked and out of reach for far too long, especially in communities of color.” Preckwinkle added, “Mental health care should not depend on where you live, how much you earn or whether you know the right person to call.” Preckwinkle said, “It should be woven into the fabric of our public systems: in schools, libraries, community centers and clinics.” More than one‐third of suburban Cook County youth reported having experienced depression, according to a Cook County Department of Public Health report from last year. Stamps spoke about organizing the event series “S.H.O.P. Talk” (Sharing Hope and Overcoming Pressure) to create a safe space for young people to address challenges and receive support in the setting of a barbershop or beauty salon. “We witness the healing and connection that happens in these safe and trusted spaces,” said Hanna Kite, community behavioral health director at Cook County Department of Public Health, which participated in the “S.H.O.P. Talk” sessions. “The mental health crisis is real,” Kite added. Cook County Justice Advisory Council executive director Avik Das stated, “We recognize that exposure to the aftermath of gun violence, unaddressed trauma and the persistent barriers to accessing quality mental health care disproportionately impacts Black and Brown communities, struggling under historic disinvestment and lack of resources.”