(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Chicago South Siders to vote on creating a community mental health center in the November election.
Members of Chicago's Coalition to Save Our Mental Health Centers were joined by residents from two South Side communities, Englewood-Greater Chatham and the Near Southwest Side, to deliver more than 17,000 signatures gathered to the Chicago Board of elections to put a binding referendum on two ballots for two new expanded mental health services programs.
Noah Pickens, executive director at Chicago Youth Boxing Club, says his community needs long term mental wellness help.
“The need that exists for mental wellness is with young people and they are struggling now and there is nothing out there when you're talking about accessible resources for long term support on a daily basis.”
A coalition volunteer says it's important to change the conversation around mental illness.
“This is why we're here today, to help break that stigma, break any type of stereotypes that anybody have about mental health. And at the end of the day, we're going to get these two questions on the ballot. And next thing you know, we're going to have a couple more mental health centers in Chicago.”
If the signature is successfully gathered and submitted, the coalition says the upcoming binding referendum questions will appear on the November ballot.
If local voters support the referendum questions on the November ballot, the coalition says the services will be decided by the community.
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