Illinois gets 'D' on mental health care

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness came out with the new report on grading the states for their quality and delivery of mental health services. Illinois improved from an F to a D. Although a D is an improvement, it is still a travesty for people who have to navigate our state's broken mental health system. NAMI raised Illinois' grade because of the outstanding police crisis intervention training program in Chicago and the expansion of mental health courts. The state gets a D because hardworking people in the local community have fought for improvements in their community. The state gets an F, but the outstanding volunteers who helped set up the mental health courts and community mental health workers, as well as Suzanne Andrikitus of NAMI Greater Chicago, Lt Jeff Murphy of the Chicago Police Department and Thresholds for the development of the police crisis intervention training get an A-plus. Thank you to these wonderful dedicated people.

Mary Lou Lowry

Executive director, NAMI DuPage

Wheaton