Current Research Initiatives

WE GOTTA STOP CRIMINALIZIN’ MENTAL ILLNESS: Experiences with Mental Health Crisis Response in Chicago

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From July through October 2023, a team of sociologists from the University of Illinois at Chicago interviewed 23 residents of Chicago about their experiences with mental health crisis response. In partnership with the Collaborative for Community Wellness, we set out to learn about people’s actual experiences with mental health services and crisis response in our city. During the interviews, people talked about access to mental health services, shared stories
about mental health crises, and discussed their visions for a more just and effective mental healthcare and crisis response system. As this report makes clear, the current system is failing the people of our city.