Community Resources

Supporting Your Well-Being at Cheetah Gym

At Cheetah Gym, we recognize that everyone faces unique challenges that can impact their day-to-day well-being. Our goal is to help every member thrive and become the best version of themselves—both inside and outside the gym.

On this page, you’ll find a dedicated collection of local resources throughout Chicago and the Chicagoland areas designed to support your mental, physical, and emotional wellness. Whether you’re looking for counseling services, community programs, fitness partners, or wellness initiatives, we’re here to connect you with what you need to feel your best.

General / All-Ages Support

  1. NAMI Chicago — Free peer-led support groups and helpline for mental health concerns. (Helpline: 833-NAMI-CHI)

  2. Mental Health America of Illinois (MHAI) — Provides screening tools, a find-a-provider service, and crisis contacts.

  3. Coalition for Immigrant Mental Health (CIMH) — Focused on immigrants/refugees; builds access to culturally-aware mental health for immigrant communities. 

LGBTQ+-Affirming & Identity-Focused

  1. Chicago Pride Center — Behavioral-health treatment that’s LGBTQIA+ affirming, including non-monogamous relationships, gender-expansive folks. 

  2. Brave Space Alliance — Black & trans-led community center on Chicago’s South Side offering support groups and wellness services. 

  3. Polaris Program (at a Chicago hospital) — A specialized inpatient psychiatric unit for LGBTQIA+ adolescents (ages ~12-17) with affirming care. 

  4. Howard Brown Health Center – One of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) organizations. Primary medical care, behavioral health, HIV/STI prevention, youth services, elder/senior services, dental services, and community initiatives.

Immigrant, Refugee, and Multilingual Services

  1. World Relief Chicagoland — Provides support to refugees/immigrants, including mental health services, multilingual services, and adult education. 

  2. Esperanza Health Centers — On Chicago’s Southwest Side, bilingual behavioral health & wellness services regardless of immigration status.

  3. National Immigrant Justice Center – Defends the legal rights of immigrants regardless of background and transforms the immigration system to one that affords equal opportunity for all.

Crisis & Sliding-Scale / Low-Cost Access

  1. UChicago Medicine Mental & Behavioral Health Services — Offers LGBTQ-friendly/identity-aware mental health care on Chicago’s South Side; helps uninsured/under-insured. 

  2. ICIRR (Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights) Resource Hub — Hotline and directory for immigrant families, including mental-health-friendly referrals.

  3. Rush University Medical Center Community Resources / Mental Health Directory — Lists free/low-cost mental health resources for Chicago residents, including teletherapy options. 

Food Bank Programs

  1. Greater Chicago Food Despository — Provides food for our neighbors in need across Chicago and Cook County.

  2. Catholic Charities of Chicago — Across Cook and Lake counties, food pantries operated by Catholic Charities and parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago are open and offer food to anyone in need.

  3. Nourishing Hope — Nourishing Hope through food, mental health, and social services so that all of our neighbors can thrive.