Lightfoot announces mental health services designed to support those in crisis

Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced several steps Thursday designed to “better align” mental health services in Chicago.

Lightfoot plans to increase crisis intervention training for police and firefighters and create a plan for public agencies to coordinate with one another as well as mental health providers when responding to emergency calls, the mayor’s office said Thursday.

Lightfoot also announced creation of a new position, the Victim Services Coordinator, who will be tasked with connecting residents with city and community trauma-response services after incidents.

The efforts are included under the $9.3 million expansion of the city’s mental health services budget.

A portion of the money will also be used to increase capacity at the city’s five mental health clinics, Lightfoot announced.

The new measures were recommended by the City’s Crisis Intervention Advisory Council and the National Alliance for Mental Illness Chicago.