Chicago moves to open 3 mental health clinics

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson intends to reopen the Roseland Mental Health Center and open two new mental health service sites on the city's West Side, WTTW reported May 30.

The two new sites will be at the Legler Regional Library on the city's West Side and at the Chicago Department of Public Health's Lower West Side vaccine clinic in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, the publication reported.

Mr. Johnson said that moving forward, the city's Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement teams will be staffed fully by Chicago Department of Public Health employees, phasing out police officers and members of the fire department who previously staffed the teams, according to WTTW. Mr. Johnson said he hopes the changes will reduce arrests and use-of-force incidents during mental health crisis calls and to provide those experiencing a mental health crisis with trauma-informed care, also allowing police and firefighters to focus on their original roles, according to WTTW. 

Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Olusimbo Ige, MD, said the city has already hired 19 people to work in the mental health clinics, WTTW reported. 

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