Mental Health Report Released By Objectors Criticizes Emanuel's Planned Facility Closures (VIDEO)

The Chicago Mental Health Movement released a report Thursday outlining the long-term costs of Mayor Emanuel's proposed cuts and condemning the closure of six mental health clinics outlined in his 2012 budget.

"While the city presents these reductions as a 'consolidation' of services, an analysis of the [Chicago Department of Public Health] budget, an assessment of need in Chicago and first-hand accounts from patients make clear the Emanuel closures are risky, ill-conceived, and riddled with hidden costs," wrote the report's author, Jo Patton.

The Mental Health Movement released the results of their study at a rally in front of Grace Episcopal Church Thursday, where Chicagoans reliant on the city's mental health services shared their stories.

"For me, my therapist is a matter of life or death, because I have no one," said Helen Morley, a patient at the Beverly Morgan Park Mental Health Clinic slated for closure. " I am lucky to have my therapist.

Emanuel's budget calls for the city's 12 mental health clinics to be consolidated into six, which would displace 2,549 patients, according to the Mental Health Movement report. The report also argues that the closures would transfer at least 1,100 Medicaid patients to private providers, "effectively giving away federal reimbursement for these services."

The closures will also disproportionately affect minority patients. Facilities are slated for closure in Auburn Gresham, Back of the Yards, Beverly Morgan Park, Woodlawn and North Rogers Park, where 61 percent of patients are African-American and 17 percent are Latino, according to the report.

"My therapist is like part of my family," said Florencia Cano, a patient at Northwest Mental Health Clinic. "It's important for me that this clinic does not close. This is my neighborhood. Sending people to other neighborhoods is going to be very difficult."

Comments

[lynnhamilton]

10:52 AM on 01/23/2012

It's reprehensible to save money at the expense of Chicago's poorest and most vulnerable people. These clinic closings would not only hurt those who need mental health care, they would hurt, in particular, those mental patients who do not have cars or cab fare to travel further away for treatment. I predict many, many patients will simply neglect their care and end up in much worse condition. Please sign my petition to keep these clinics open here: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/dont-leave-mental-health-patients-stranded/

[robert horwitz]

11:24 AM on 01/22/2012

With Chicago's cutback in Mental Health Care spending on Clinics where will we field our next crop of promising Chicago Politicians?

[fifthmansix]

07:51 PM on 01/21/2012

quinn and rahm are following the KOCH BROS,ALEC playbook. too close down the mental health centers to get rid of the sick and mentally ill .like reagan did in the 80's shutting down centers for politics like TOM CROSS (r) wants to kill the middle class and the sick by this act. croos is getting money from ALEC and the nursing homes to kill the state hosptials so thet they get the money . quinn is stupid to kill the unions and the middle class that put him in office? cross need to go to jail along with madigan and the back room deals that are relaly causing the deficit !

[sks504]

03:34 PM on 01/22/2012

If the right does it it is Koch's fault. If the left does it it is Koch's fault. Makes sense. Sad.

[rchsod]

06:18 PM on 01/22/2012

you`re right..quinn and rahm sold out these people and the people who help them.

[Romano54]

02:34 PM on 01/21/2012

Our compassionate mayor strikes again!

..."effectively giving away federal reimbursement for these services."

We don't need no stinkin' federal grant money! We got our own citizens that we can squeeze for a few more bucks! Whoever takes over these services will make a contribution to Rahm's war chest and almost all will be happy.