Chicago Child’s Alleged Killing By His Mother Puts Spotlight On Mental Health Access

Cook County Sheriff’s Office
In this Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, photo Sheriff's Police Sgt. Bonnie Busching tests a virtual meeting with a tablet at the Cook County Sheriff's Office in Chicago. The Cook County Sheriff's Office has started putting people having a crisis face to face with mental health professionals. Nam Y. Huh / Associated Press
Cook County Sheriff’s Office
In this Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, photo Sheriff's Police Sgt. Bonnie Busching tests a virtual meeting with a tablet at the Cook County Sheriff's Office in Chicago. The Cook County Sheriff's Office has started putting people having a crisis face to face with mental health professionals. Nam Y. Huh / Associated Press

Chicago Child’s Alleged Killing By His Mother Puts Spotlight On Mental Health Access

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A South Side Chicago mother faces first-degree murder charges for the shooting death of her young son, but her family says the real culprit here is mental illness. And though family and colleagues around the woman reportedly did attempt to connect her with help, her husband said “it was too late.”

NAMI Chicago reports that since March 2020, calls to their helpline have increased by more than 200 percent.

Reset talks with NAMI Chicago about how to connect to resources, practice conversations with family, and other ways to help loved ones with mental health issues.

GUEST: Alexa James, executive director of NAMI Chicago