Social & Cultural Basis for Community and Primary Health Programs

Topic: Comment by Toun Olateju: What is the blog topic? Every blog posting must have a topic. Please ensure your blog has a topic prior to posting.

a. Specific Country, State, Local Government concerned

United States, Illinois, Chicago

b. Nature of the policy issue in detail

The aim is to develop an effective public policy towards mental illness as a public health response towards the decreasing community psychiatric clinics in Chicago. There is a growing rate of gun violence in the city of Chicago. Most of the cases have been associated with mental illness which has consequently affected neighborhoods, churches, schools, and families. The state had twelve community psychiatric clinics in 2011, and as per October 2018, it only had five of them. Several clinics have been shut down over the years including the recent closure of a non-profit community institution called Saint Anthony Hospital. The facility is located on the border between the African-American and Latino communities. The hospital further offers culturally sensitive healthcare to both communities and in most assures free mental health services to the individuals who and uninsured. Despite the increasing rates of mental cases, there has been an intentional disregard for investing in psychiatric care in Chicago.

c. Your/your group’s position on the issue Comment by Toun Olateju: While the issue is clear and the location is appropriate, your group’s position here is unclear. Are you advocating that more community psychiatric clinics be open? Are you advocating for St. Anthony Hospital to be reopened? Your current position sounds more like an activity. Where would this be taking place?

The group’s position in the issue is to assist in daily communal activities such as patient care and monitoring.

Stakeholders Comment by Toun Olateju: The national-level stakeholders, do they have a Chicago chapter through which they can advocate?

Characteristics

Involvement, interest and importance of group concerning the policy issue

Position on the Issue (for, against, uncommitted) Comment by Toun Olateju: It should be stated if the stakeholder’s position is in support or against the issue you are advocating for

1. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

· The stakeholder will offer educational programs and support groups to advocate for the affected persons to obtain mental health services as they deserve and on time.

· The organization will also offer training and classes for individuals living with mental illness, together with their families and communities.

The stakeholder’s role is to advocate for the persons living with mental illness.

2. Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)

· The stakeholder will focus on creating an environment that understands the management and effect of mental illness. Such will be achieved through their provision of up-to-date, scientifically-based tools.

The stakeholder’s role is to provide the latest treatment and management tools for persons with mental illnesses within the city.

3. Mental health America of Illinois

· The organization will support and develop key policy positions by working with state agencies, legislators and other non-profit groups.

· The organization’s interest will be to increase access to science-based information on mental health by the public through partnering with state and national organizations.

· The non-profit organizations will also conduct community educational workshops that promote mental wellness and raise funds for continual advocating on behalf of the mental illness patients.

Advocating for improved policies

4. The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law

· The national legal-advocacy organization will coordinate with the federal policy advocacy to ensure that persons with mental disabilities to be protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

· The organization will also ensure that the patients get resources such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income for them to thrive in the community.

Advocate for people with mental disability in Chicago

5. Community mental health workers

· To assist with the daily undertakings and therapeutic care among people with mental illness. The mental health workers will also assist in monitoring the patients’ conditions.

Assisting in monitoring the patients’ mental conditions

6. Saint Anthony Hospital, Chicago Comment by Toun Olateju: If the hospital is closed, how is it still a stakeholder and can provide treatment?

· The role of the hospital will include gathering mental health data mainly in the southwest region of the city whereby treatment options are limited for uninsured and low-income residents.

To provide free treatment for uninsured and low-income residents.

Name

URL

Brief Description

This Is What Happens When a City Shuts Down Mental Health Clinics

https://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/gov-chicago-mental-health.html

Describes the need for having an effective public policy towards mental illnesses in Chicago

Bazelon Center for Mental Health

http://www.bazelon.org/

Defines the primary roles of the organization in criminal justice reform and access to mental health services to persons with mental illness.

Mental Health America Illinois

http://www.mhai.org/what-we-do/

Describes the primary roles of the organization

NAMI Chicago

https://namichicago.org/en/home/

Represents the leading roles and interests of the advocacy group

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

https://www.dbsalliance.org/

Provides materials that will help people with diagnoses to mood disorders as well as their management and treatment options