Advocates say more attention — and money — must be directed to a state mental health system they describe as overwhelmed.
Between 2009 and 2012, Illinois slashed funding for community mental health programs by more than 30 percent — more than all but three other states. Experts say that makes it much harder to identify and help people whose mental illness may lead to violent outbursts.
But State Senator Sam McCann, appearing live on 970 WMAY, says the system doesn’t necessarily need more money, it just needs to spend it more wisely.
