CHICAGO – With years of experience in the behavioral health field and a strong track record of advocating for improved mental health care access for all residents, state Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago, has been appointed to lead the Illinois House Mental Health and Addiction Committee for the 103rd General Assembly.
“When it comes to mental health and wellness, we are at an inflection point of both need and willingness to seek support,” LaPointe said. “Stigma is down and need is up. It’s now on us as policy makers, in collaboration with our communities, to create and maintain a mental health and wellness system inclusive to every resident of Illinois across the lifespan – from teenagers accessing tele-health therapy to innovative trauma support for our unhoused neighbors.”
LaPointe enters the role with years of experience in the mental health field. She started her career at a group home for kids with special needs, before moving on to work with people experiencing homelessness, addiction challenges and other mental health needs.
As the General Assembly begins, LaPointe has initial foundational priorities, including:
- Building up Illinois’ behavioral health workforce through recruitment, retention and diversification. This includes a future workforce that looks like every resident in Illinois.
- Ensuring our survivors of gun violence, no matter which zip code they live in – from Highland Park to North Lawndale, from Roseland to East St. Louis – have access to responsive trauma-informed behavioral health care supports.
“We must continue fighting for a responsible budget that smartly invests in affordable and accessible mental health and wellness supports for all ages, in all zip codes,” LaPointe said. “This kind of investment not only helps right now, it also creates positive, long-term effects that are beneficial for all of us. Health care is a human right, and mental health care is health care.”
“I’m grateful for the tireless advocacy of my predecessor Deb Conroy, who led historic efforts to improve mental health access in our state,” LaPointe said. “I have big shoes to fill, but I’m appreciative of the trust Speaker Welch and my colleagues have placed in me and am looking forward to the work ahead.”
For more information, please contact Info@RepLaPointe.com.