Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot recently spoke with Blavity about a new initiative she has launched to tackle mental health challenges and promote self-care among Chicago residents. “Our primary focus is on combating the negative stigma around people needing mental health support," Mayor Lightfoot said about her new Un[ ]spoken campaign. Mental health has been a focus of Lightfoot’s administration; she has tripled the city’s mental healthcare budget since taking office. Nevertheless, Mayor Lightfoot explained how lingering stigma concerning mental health challenges prevent people from both discussing their own needs and accessing the resources that could help them. Therefore, the mayor has prioritized efforts to challenge the dangerous shame attached to mental illness. When asked about disparities facing people of color and LGBTQ+ Chicagoans when it comes to mental health resources, the mayor acknowledged that there is indeed a taboo around common mental and emotional disorders like...
