Mental Health Board Hosts Community Engagement in Sangamon County

Sangamon County leaders are continuing their push to strengthen mental health support, two years after the killing of Sonya Massey during a mental health episode in 2024. In response, the Sangamon County Mental Health Board was created to give residents a safe public space to talk about Massey’s death and broader mental health concerns across the community. Organizers say their work now centers on connecting people with services and programs they may not know are available. The board’s newly appointed director, Dr. Tatyana Gardner, says the group is meant to help residents speak openly, share concerns, and feel heard.