Chicago Trains…

In London, we travel on public transport all the time.  We generally feel fairly safe doing so. 

That’s not been the case in Chicago. Even once. 

We’ve taken the L train here quite a lot. It’s run by the Chicago train authority (CTA). 

And every time we’ve done so, or be at early in the morning, during the day, or later in the evening every carriage has had one or more people who clearly have (untreated? undiagnosed?) mental health issues. 

We’ve witnessed people talking to themselves, rocking backwards and forwards, lying on the floor, staring, shouting, violent behaviour, aggression, boxing in peoples faces, pushing, shoving and intimidation. These people obviously need help. 

From our perspective it seems a failing of the public health system here in the US that they are not getting it. 

In the UK, these people would be taken to a safe place, sectioned if needs be, assessed by a doctor, and not released until they have been helped with a treatment plan, accommodation and/or antipsychotics.