By rssfeeds-admin The National Institute of Mental Health reported 57.8 million adults admitted to having some form of mental illness in 2024.
Here in Illinois, over a million adults reported having a mental health disorder. Over half of those people have not received treatment.
33.2% of adults who did not seek support for their mental health disorder say it was due to cost. Additionally, 7.3% of adults are uninsured.
And it’s even affecting our youth at alarming rates.
A survey conducted by A Better Chicago found that 94% of Chicago’s youth said they struggle with their mental health, with over 70% admitting it is a “major problem” for them.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and support is available to everyone, no matter your background or financial situation.
Below is a guide to free or low-cost mental health resources for Chicagoans. Taking that first brave step can make all the difference.
Chicago Department of Public Health
The Expanded Mental Health Services Program offers low to no cost therapy to eligible residents based on their address. The services are funded by local property taxes.
Mental health services are provided at the following centers:
- The Encompassing Center, located at 3019 W. Harrison St.
- The Encompassing Center, located at 3019 W. Harrison St.
- The LoSAH Center of Hope, located at 3555 W. Armitage Ave.
Healing Arts Chicago
A program supported by the Chicago Department of Health, Healing Arts Chicago offers free classes and workshops to help boost morale and support mental health and wellness.
Healing Arts Chicago offers yoga, movement, sound and body meditation, music, painting, poetry, writing and storytelling.
Registration, as well as schedules and locations, can be found on their website.
National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) Chicago
Those who need mental health resources can call or text 833-626-4244. You can also text HOME to 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor.
The hotline is a partnership between Cook County Health and NAMI Chicago that refers community members to over 700 resources.
NAMI also offers virtual and in-person support groups and classes designed to help you understand mental illness and help your loved ones who are suffering.
More information on classes and support groups, as well as office locations, can be found on NAMI’s website.
Middle Eastern Immigrant Refugee Alliance (MIRA)
Refugees and immigrant women from Middle East and Islamic cultures can get free mental health counseling and advocacy through MIRA, located at 6420 N. California Ave.
CommunityHealth
Those with no health insurance can receive free medical and mental health services through CommunityHealth.
New patients can make an appointment online. Offices are located at:
- The Resurrection Project, located at 4600 S. Wood St.
- Lederman Family Health Center, located at 2611 W. Chicago Ave.
- Onward House, located at 5413 Diversey Ave.
- CommunityHealth at Enlace, located at 2759 S. Harding Ave.
The Living Room
The Living Room Project (LRP) offers a variety of free mental health services, as well as crisis intervention. The peer-led program is an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization.
The Living Room, located at 4423 N. Ravenswood Ave., is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Those in need can drop no appointment needed or call 773-537-3601.
Northwestern Family Institute
Conveniently located near the CTA Grand red line stop, the Northwestern Family Institute’s downtown Chicago location offers low-cost counseling for individuals, families or couples.
The office is located on the 10th floor inside the Bette D. Harris Family & Child Clinic at 8 S. Michigan Ave.
Services are on a sliding fee scale with $15 as the average fee per session.
Community Counseling Centers of Chicago
The organization, known as C4, has provided mental health services for over 50 years. Anyone without insurance can receive discounted services on a sliding fee scale.
They offer individual, family and group counseling, as well as art therapy, post-crisis treatment, sexual trauma recovery therapy and more.
Offices are located at:
- 4740 N. Clark St.
- 2542 W. North Ave.
- 5710 N. Broadway St.
- 2014 W. Belle Plaine Ave.
A full list of services and to schedule an appointment, head on over to their website.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
The national hotline, formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, is a network of crisis centers that provide free mental health support 24/7.
Dial 988 for help or visit their website for online services in Spanish and for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
SAMHSA’s national helpline connects and refers callers to mental health and/or substance abuse resources near them. Services are offered 24 hours a day in English and Spanish.
People in need can call 1-800-662-4357 or text their five-digit zip code to 435748.
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