After Chicago closed half its mental health clinics

In a city infamous for its high crime rate, Chicago’s diminished access to mental health clinics continues to have people up in arms. Last year half of the city’s outpatient mental health clinics were shut down under the Department of Public Health (CDPH)’s consolidation plan. According to CDPH, the plan was to increase psychiatry services and improve efficiency at the remaining six sites for thousands of Chicagoans who use the service.

The decision, however, was not welcomed by many patients and mental health advocates, who strongly protested the closing outside the clinics and City Hall. In one incident, five people were arrested outside of City Hall for breaking through the barricade on April 30, 2012 – the day the final closing were scheduled.

Twenty month have passed since the clinics shut their doors and according to a spokesperson of the Mental Health Movement, N’Dana Carter, things are not looking good for Chicago.

“People have fallen off the map,” Carter said. “Some former patients I see standing around parking lots.”

According to Carter, closing of the clinics has also led to higher crime in areas like Woodlawn, where the closed clinic had treated entire families and provided help with food, job placement in addition to therapy. The clinics that remain open are also currently overcrowded. Carter, who receives therapy from Greater Lawn clinic says while she used to have sessions on a weekly basis, now only sees her therapist once a month due to doctor’s packed schedules.

Other concerns from patients is increased travel time to reach the remaining clinics. In a video made by advocacy group STOP Chicago, patients express frustration with the closings, some noting they will no longer seek service due to the high travel times.

Clinics that remain open are now too overcrowded, adds Carter

Bruce Seitzer, the senior Vice President of Community Counseling Centers of Chicago says his centers worked with the City of Chicago in patient transitions during the shutdowns. While Seitzer cannot confirm numbers around patient transfers, his community centers have since experienced an increase of patients.

According to report from the NAMI, Illinois was among the top 10 states to cut mental health funding from FY2009 to FY2012 with a 32% cut.

While the link between crime rates and mental health access continues to be a national discussion, President Obama set attaining mental health care access a primary goal for reducing gun violence.

The map below shows total crime and homicide data over the past 12 months showing that in South Side Chicago where accordingly to Carter, mental health services are in dire need, four of the eight centers have been closed. Rogers Park, also high in crime, a clinic that provided bilingual services, on the north side of Chicago also had its clinic closed.