10 Major Mental Health Milestones In Chicago's History

Chicago has long stood at the crossroads of culture, activism, and transformation. For decades, this city has been both a battleground and a beacon in the fight for equity. This is especially true for Black and Latinx communities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs. At The 1937 Foundation, we believe that understanding our city’s journey toward mental health justice is essential to building a better, more compassionate future. That’s why we think it’s worth bringing attention to some of the city’s significant mental health achievements.

Below, we’ve highlighted 10 major milestones in Chicago’s history. Each of these has reshaped access to mental health care and support, particularly for marginalized communities. These pivotal moments not only represent progress but also lay the groundwork for the work we continue today—healing the wounds of the past and creating new opportunities for those most affected.

1. The Opening of Provident Hospital (1891)

As the first Black-owned and operated hospital in America, Provident Hospital was more than a medical institution. It was also a symbol of resilience and self-determination. While it began as a general hospital, it also became a safe haven for Black Chicagoans to receive care, including early forms of mental health support, at a time when segregation and racism were rampant in public health systems.

2. The Establishment of the Institute for Juvenile Research (1909)

Located in Chicago, this institution was one of the first to integrate mental health services into the juvenile justice system. It laid the foundation for trauma-informed care for youth, especially those from Black and Latinx neighborhoods disproportionately funneled into carceral systems. This model shifted the narrative: from punishment to healing.

3. Ernest A. Codman’s Influence on Quality of Care (1910s–1920s)

Though not often celebrated, Codman’s push for patient outcome tracking at Cook County Hospital helped elevate the standard of care across Chicago, eventually influencing mental health practices citywide. This was a precursor to more accountable, community-centered approaches in public health facilities serving marginalized populations.

4. Jane Addams Hull-House Settlement Movement Expands Social Work (1920s)

Hull-House, under Jane Addams, offered social services, education, and emotional support to immigrant and low-income families in Chicago. The expansion of Hull-House programming in the 1920s included early iterations of what we’d now call mental health counseling. This initiative touched many Latinx and Black families at a time when few resources were available.

5. The Rise of Community Mental Health Clinics (1960s)

Following the federal Community Mental Health Act of 1963, Chicago began opening community-based mental health centers, offering alternatives to institutionalization. While access remained unequal, these centers began planting the seeds for neighborhood-based care, making mental health more accessible to Black and Brown communities.

6. Chicago Freedom Movement and Mental Health Advocacy (1965–1967)

Led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Chicago Freedom Movement wasn't just about housing and jobs—it was also about dignity. This movement laid the cultural groundwork for the idea that psychological health is tied to social justice. It directly influenced local policies and funding around community wellness and mental health.

7. The Founding of Thresholds (1971)

One of the largest and most respected providers of recovery services for people with mental illnesses in Illinois, Thresholds has prioritized underserved populations since its founding. Their model—combining housing, employment, and clinical support—paved the way for integrated care practices that benefit many impacted by systemic injustice and the War on Drugs.

8. The Expansion of the Latino Youth Alternative High School (1980s–1990s)

Originally founded in the 1970s, the school expanded its holistic support services during the 80s and 90s to include counseling and mental health support for Latinx youth facing gang violence, poverty, and trauma. It became a model of how culturally relevant education and mental wellness go hand-in-hand for long-term community empowerment.

9. Mental Health Movement Organizing and “Save Our Clinics” (2012)

When Mayor Rahm Emanuel closed half of Chicago’s public mental health clinics, grassroots organizations—many led by Black and Latinx activists—fought back. The Mental Health Movement and groups like Southside Together Organizing for Power (STOP) launched powerful campaigns to keep services alive in neighborhoods that needed them most. This moment highlighted the power of community-led mental health advocacy.

10. The Creation of The 1937 Foundation (2020)

In direct response to the lasting trauma caused by the War on Drugs, The 1937 Foundation was born. Our goal was to address the mental, emotional, and spiritual health of Black and Brown Chicagoans. We center our work on restorative justice, cannabis equity, and culturally competent healing. Our programs aim to create sustainable opportunities. These include mental health access for those most harmed by decades of over-policing and under-resourcing.

The Road Ahead

These milestones show us how far we've come—but also how much further we must go. In a city still grappling with the long shadows of inequality, mental health access remains a civil rights issue. The trauma endured by Black and Latinx communities—especially those criminalized during the War on Drugs—can no longer be ignored or treated as secondary.

Healing requires acknowledgment, resources, and space. It also requires innovation rooted in community values and lived experience. The 1937 Foundation is proud to be part of this legacy and the movement to ensure that mental health care is accessible, dignified, and empowering for all.

Join Us in Building the Future

If you believe in a Chicago where everyone—regardless of background or zip code—has access to mental wellness and opportunity, we invite you to be part of our mission. From policy reform to community care, from cannabis equity to trauma-informed services, we’re laying the groundwork for a new era of healing. Let’s rewrite the story together. Join The 1937 Foundation today and help us bring Chicago into a new chapter of healing, equity, and empowerment.