Health

Cook County Officials Raise Awareness Around Youth Mental Health, Resources

Cook County officials called attention to youth mental health and the importance of local mental health resources Tuesday in light of Mental Health Awareness Month.

“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.”

Mental health support has been underfunded, overlooked and out of reach for far too long, especially in communities of color, according to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

“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 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,” which stands for 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 CCDPH, 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 spoke about justice system reform at the intersection of public safety and public health. JAC works with communities most impacted by “chronic” exposure to violence and contact with law enforcement, courts and incarceration, according to Das.

“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,” Das said. “We further recognize that our first responders in law enforcement and emergency services feel the relentless pressure of confronting acute mental health crises.”

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If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or suicidal ideation, you can call or text 988 to access the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or find help online at 988lifeline.org.

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Contact Eunice Alpasan: [email protected]

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