Illustration by Mike Centeno for Borderless MagazineBorderless compiled a list of organizations across the Chicagoland area that provide free or low-cost mental health support.
Amid the ongoing migrant crisis, new arrivals are experiencing various mental health issues stemming, in part, from a traumatic journey to the United States. The mental health struggles have been exacerbated by unstable housing, a backlog of work permit applications, and a general uncertainty about the path forward.
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In Chicago, many immigrant and refugee serving agencies offer mental health services to individuals and families, some of whom have faced displacement, trauma, violence and more. These organizations say providing mental health services to immigrant communities is important.
Borderless Magazine has compiled a list of organizations and agencies offering free or low-cost mental health support.
If you are in an emergency call:
312-563-0445
1-800-273-8255
Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline
1-877-863-6338
North Side
Middle Eastern Immigrant and Refugee Alliance (MIRA)
Through their Refugee Women’s Mental Health Empowerment Program, MIRA provides free mental health counseling and advocacy services for refugee and immigrant women.
Languages: Arabic
Address: 6420 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60645
Phone number: 773-409 4597
Apna Ghar offers various gender violence and domestic violence services, including crisis intervention, emergency housing and counseling, for free.
Languages: Arabic, Hindi/Urdu, Spanish, Tigrinya, Amharic, Tamil, Polish, French, Italian, English
Address: 4350 N. Broadway, 2nd Floor Chicago, IL 60613
24-hour Crisis Hotline: (773) 334-4663
Uptown Office Phone: (773) 883-4663
Skokie Office Phone: (847) 983-4099
Ashburn Office Phone: (773) 697-3272
Hanul Family Alliances provides no-cost to low-cost counseling services for individuals, couples, families and groups of all ages. Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Health Care, Cigna, Medicare, Medicaid and Aetna are insurances they accept.
Languages: Korean and English
Locations: By appointment only
Address:
Chicago: 5008 N. Kedzie Ave Chicago, IL 60625
773-478-8851
Mount Prospect: 1166 S. Elmhurst Road, Mt. Prospect, IL 60056
847-439-5195
Lake County: 2900 N. Main St., 1st FL Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
847-393-7488
Lutheran Social Services Illinois (LSSI)
LSSI offers a mental health clinic for adults with counseling, case management and psychiatric appointments. Telehealth services are also available. The first visit is free.
Address: 5215 N. California Ave. Suite F101, Chicago, IL
Walk-in hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Phone: 833-610-5774
National Alliance on Mental Illness – Chicago (NAMI)
NAMI offers free recovery-focused groups and family support groups with no ID required. The family and recovery group takes place in Spanish every second and fourth Thursday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m.
Address: 1801 W. Warner Ave., Suite 202, Chicago, IL 60613
Helpline number: 833-626-4244
Rincon Family Services provides a comfortable, safe, non-clinical space for adults experiencing mental health challenges, specifically counseling and therapy. They only accept Medicaid.
Languages: Spanish and English
Address: 3710 N. Kedzie Ave. Chicago, IL 60618
Phone number: 773-564-9070
SGA Youth & Family Services’ Unaccompanied Migrant Youth Project
They work with unaccompanied migrant children, DACA recipients, refugees, and any migrant youth who may have experienced family separation at the border/deportation of a family member. Any youth under 18 who has experienced trauma is also eligible to receive therapy services through this project.
Address: 11 E. Adams, Suite 240, Chicago, IL 60604
Phone number: 312-447-4342
Email: SP-UnaccompaniedYouth@sga.youth.org
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South Side
Midwest Asian Health Association (MAHA)
MAHA’s Community Mental Health Clinic provides linguistically appropriate and culturally sensitive mental health services to underserved Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander populations in the Chicagoland area. MAHA’s staff of mental health professionals provides affordable services for all ages, including individual therapy, family therapy, school consultations and mental health seminars.
MAHA’s services are covered by Medicaid, Medicaid MCOs (Aetna Better Health, Blue Cross Community Health Plan, Meridian, and Molina), County Care, and other private insurances. They also offer self-pay sliding scale fees.
Languages: Chinese Mandarin, Cantonese and English.
For inquiries, fill out this form or call their office.
Address: 218 W. 26th St, 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60616
Phone number: 312-285-2287
Email: intake@maha-us.org
The organization offers free, no-cost counseling and domestic violence crisis intervention services for adolescents and adults. No photo ID is required. Call their 24-hour helpline to make an appointment.
Languages: Spanish, Arabic, French, English
24 Hour Helpline: 800-603-4357
Office Phone: 773-274-5232
El Circulo/The Circle Resource Center for Women
El Circulo provides no cost to low-cost therapy for individuals, couples, families and group psychotherapy primarily for women.
Languages: Spanish, English
Address: 2648 W. Pershing Road, Chicago, IL 60632
By appointment only.
Phone number: 872-444-5148
Mujeres Latinas en Acción offers free services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and parenting classes for all ages.
Languages: Spanish and English
Address: 2124 W. 21st Pl. Chicago, IL 60608
Walk-ins are welcome.
Phone number: 773-890-7676
West Side
Community Health offers free social services such as emotional support and short-term counseling. Call the number to make an appointment.
Address: 2611 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60622
Languages: Spanish, Polish, English
Phone number: 773-395-9900
Health Alternative Services (HAS)
HAS provides a safe, calming alternative to the emergency room when someone is experiencing emotional stress.
Languages: Spanish and English
Address: 5001 W. Fullerton Ave. Chicago, IL.
Walk-Ins or Calls Welcome
Phone: 312-850-0050
The Collaborative Bridges offers assistance with behavioral health, substance abuse or mental health.
Languages: English and Spanish
Phone: 872-235-0777
The Encompassing Center offers free therapy and case management services to residents of North Lawndale, East and West Garfield Park and Near West Side.
Languages: Spanish and English
Address: 3019 W. Harrison St., Chicago, IL
Phone: 773-638-5703
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