Saint Anthony Expands Mental Health Care for Underserved Chicagoans

CHICAGO, IL – April 14, 2026 – Saint Anthony Hospital today announced a significant expansion of its behavioral health services, launching new outpatient programs for adults and walk-in therapy appointments for children. The initiative is a direct response to a long-standing and critical lack of accessible mental healthcare on Chicago's West and Southwest Sides, communities that have historically faced profound barriers to receiving support.

Starting today, the hospital's new adult outpatient services will provide psychiatric evaluations, diagnosis, and treatment for conditions including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Simultaneously, building on the success of its pediatric SPARK program, the hospital will now offer immediate walk-in appointments for patients under 18, aiming to drastically reduce wait times for young people in need. This dual expansion reinforces the hospital's century-long mission to provide equitable care in neighborhoods where such resources are scarce.

"Our community deserves the same high-quality healthcare as any other, and Saint Anthony Hospital is committed to removing every barrier that stands in the way," said Saint Anthony Hospital President and CEO Dorval R. Carter Jr. in a statement. "When it comes to mental health, we've seen far too many roadblocks put in the way and we hope by offering outpatient service for adults and convenient walk-in availability for children we will see improved results for our community."

Addressing a Deep-Rooted Community Crisis

The expansion arrives at a critical moment for the West and Southwest Sides, areas where mental health challenges are deeply intertwined with social determinants of health like poverty, systemic inequality, and community violence. Public health data has consistently shown these neighborhoods to be epicenters of need. In 2014, for instance, a staggering 74% of all mental health-related 911 calls in the city originated from predominantly Black and Latino police districts on the South and West Sides. Trauma is a pervasive and often unrecognized undercurrent, with studies indicating that a vast majority of public school students have experienced at least one traumatic event.

For years, residents and community leaders have voiced the urgent need for more local, accessible mental health services, even successfully pushing for local tax initiatives to fund new clinics. The barriers are numerous and well-documented: a persistent stigma surrounding mental illness, a shortage of local providers, and the prohibitive cost of care. Research from community health assessments has shown that over half of residents identify cost as a primary obstacle to seeking help.

Saint Anthony's leadership acknowledged that this expansion is a direct effort to fill that void. "It has become too common for our community to suffer from mental health crises and have no way of finding a solution," said Dr. Romeen Lavani, the hospital's Chief Medical Officer. "By offering outpatient services, Saint Anthony Hospital is assisting the community and providing an option for an under-resourced issue. We want to help, and this expansion of service is one of the many efforts Saint Anthony Hospital has made for our community over the last 125 years."

A New Model for Accessible Care

The hospital's strategy focuses on dismantling common barriers through operational innovation. The new services are designed not just to be available, but truly accessible. A cornerstone of this approach is the hospital's commitment to accepting most insurance plans as well as Medicaid, a crucial factor for a large portion of the community's residents. As a non-profit institution with a history of providing substantial charity care—over $15 million in 2023 alone—Saint Anthony is positioned to serve patients regardless of their ability to pay.

Furthermore, the behavioral health team is staffed by experienced, bilingual providers, capable of offering services in Spanish, Polish, Farsi, and several other languages, removing a significant barrier to effective communication and trust-building. This multicultural approach is essential for serving the diverse populations of the West and Southwest Sides.

The introduction of walk-in appointments for children is particularly noteworthy. It addresses one of the most frustrating aspects of pediatric mental healthcare: long wait times for an initial appointment. By allowing families to seek immediate help through its Supportive Psychiatry and Resilience for Kids (SPARK) program, the hospital aims to intervene early and prevent youth mental health issues from escalating.

"Mental health services are needed now more than ever, and Saint Anthony Hospital is looking to be a resource to an ever-growing problem for both children and adults," stated Dr. Anoop Takher, Chair of Behavioral Health. "By being available for children to receive immediate services and for adults that are trying to solve or improve their mental well-being, we are here for you."

Shifting from Crisis to Proactive Wellness

While other mental health providers operate in the area, including community health centers and crisis triage facilities, Saint Anthony's expansion is significant for its integrated, hospital-based approach and its focus on establishing long-term therapeutic relationships. The new adult outpatient services offer a pathway for continuous care, helping individuals develop coping strategies and improve daily functioning, rather than only engaging with the healthcare system during a crisis.

This proactive model aims to reduce reliance on emergency departments and law enforcement as de facto first responders for mental health emergencies. By providing a reliable and accessible clinical home for mental wellness, the hospital hopes to foster a culture of preventative care. The SPARK program for children already embodies this philosophy, offering individualized care plans, medication management, and parent guidance to support the entire family unit.

As an anchor institution that has served its community since 1897, Saint Anthony Hospital is leveraging its deep-rooted trust and infrastructure to deliver a solution tailored to the specific needs of its neighbors. This expansion is more than an addition of services; it represents a tangible investment in the long-term health equity and well-being of thousands of Chicagoans.

For more information about Saint Anthony Hospital's behavioral health services or to schedule an appointment, community members can visit sahchicago.org or call 773-446-2960.