Urban Sociology-Reflection-Analysis

"Mental Health programs have outstanding outcomes and are very cost-effective,” When we don’t provide the care we see people coming into contact with the criminal justice system. We see people injuring themselves and ending up in the emergency room, or children going to foster care because they may have a parent with a substance abuse issue.” Cuts to mental health services across the state could also impact state and local agencies. With fewer community mental health services or treatment beds, the state’s hospitals and jails could see more people struggling with a mental illness or a substance abuse issue.

My letter to Mayor Daley, states that if he would stand behind city dollars to divert funds into mental health, and other related health services, instead only then for sure he would go down in my book as a visionary who sees beyond political games. Now city residents can look up and feel like they are part of the city and not citizens who are segregated because of their language barriers and because they are not being heard by the mayor. They are only being heard when it is too late and are faced with criminal charges because of lack of treatment. Our society prefers to spend our tax dollars in our jail system versus spending our tax dollars in mental health programs. It is time to start moving in the right direction and support more funding for mental health.