FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Larry Shapiro (708) 829-8796 Monday, October 14, 2013 COUNTY COMMISSIONER CANDIDATE

RICHARD BOYKIN, U.S. CONGRESSMAN DANNY DAVIS AND STATE SENATOR MATTIE HUNTER CALL FOR INCREASED STATE FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES County-wide Effort Will be Organized to Circulate Petitions For A Referendum on Mental Health Funding to be placed on November 2014 ballot (CHICAGO, IL) Today, First District County Commissioner Candidate Richard Boykin, joined by U.S. Congressman Danny Davis (7th District), State Sen. Mattie Hunter (3rd District), Dr. Willie Wilson, Chairman of Chicago Baptist Institute, and Dr. Rashad Saafir, President of the Bobby E. Wright Comprehensive Behavioral Health Center, announced an aggressive grassroots initiative to engage and mobilize voters to support an referendum for increased funding for mental health services in the State of Illinois. Prioritizing mental health funding is a critical need especially in Cook County, declared Boykin. Our communities and our families are suffering severely due to closed mental health treatment centers and hospitals, escalating medical costs, coupled with less than adequate mental health services. For our state, county and communities to become healthy requires significantly increasing mental health funding. Illinois ranks third among states with the highest cuts in mental health services, totaling over $100 million. Only California ($587 million) and New York ($132 million) have experienced more significant reductions. According to the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, the recession has taken its toll on state mental health budgets across the country. From 2009 to 2012, states cut their mental health budgets by approximately $4.25 billion. Studies have illustrated that mental instability is one of the main causes of violent behavior and criminal activity. Moreover, 1 in 3 inmates currently housed in a correctional facility has a history of mental illness, which in most cases has gone undiagnosed, unevaluated and/or poorly treated. The issues of mental illness are real and persistent and all too often go untreated. The fact that the Cook County jail represents the largest mental health institution in the country is shameful. We look forward to raising this issue via the advisory referendum and working with all stakeholders to ensure that people with mental illness receive treatment said Congressman Danny K. Davis (IL -7).

Mental Health Referendum Add One Rashaad Saafir, CEO/President of Bobby E. Wright Comprehensive Behavioral Health Center, greatly supports a referendum on mental health. I am in support of all efforts in improving mental healthcare, Saafir continued. Funding cuts and closure of more than half of the Citys Behavioral Agencies/Clinics has caused devastating effects on the lives of people, who struggle with day to day factors such as homelessness, substance abuse, depression and many other mental illnesses. We have high hopes that the continued efforts will restore the quality care in mental healthcare, he concluded. Mental health is a moral issue that impacts all of us in Illinois, especially the business community. As a great state, we must find a way to fully fund mental health services said Larry Ivory, President of the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce. For additional information on the petition drive, visit www.boykinforcookcounty.com.