Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Members of the new Sangamon County Mental Health Committee have some ideas already regarding needs of the community.

The committee — at their first meeting — agreed to look carefully at recommendations made by both the Massey Commission, and a county Mental Health Commission.

Retired Judge Steve Nardulli is the committee chairperson.

“A big emphasis in both the Massey Commission and the Mental Health Commission, based upon reports prepared by Memorial Medical Center and the like, is the need for services and to address the challenges of adolescent males in the black community,” said Nardulli.

Nardulli says his juvenile court experience tells him more.

“The only difference between the problems of adolescent males in the black community, and adolescent males in the rural communities is pigmentation,” said Nardulli.  “They all have the same alienation problems.  They all have the same substance abuse problems. We certainly need to address mental health needs in the black community, but I also think we need to focus on rural communities.”

The commission plans on taking both groups into account when they start seeking more public feedback on mental health needs, while, as much as they can, sticking to the commission reports.

Members also believe that as much as the two commissions spent considerable time talking with mental health and other experts, the committee must also begin the process of talking to the public in general, and see what other mental health needs there may truly be.