NORTHBROOK, Ill. – State Rep. Jonathan Carroll, D-Northbrook, continued to push for accessible medical treatment for all Illinois with his support of a new law expanding mental health care training in all schools.

“We need to ensure our schools are equipped to provide support for any students who are dealing with mental illness,” Carroll said. “Accessible health care is one of the most important things we can give to our kids, so it is critical that the people responsible for their wellbeing know how to respond to these all-too-common problems. In the past, mental health care has been treated as a secondary issue that only warrents a few trained specialists in a school. It’s time for that to change.”

Carroll sponsored Senate Bill 1731, which requires all school personnel responsible for kids in Kindergarten through 12th grade be trained to handle mental health issues. These issues include depression, bipolar disorder and substance abuse, among others. This legislation receive strong bipartisan support and is now law.

“I’m committed to building a stronger, fairer Illinois, and that means providing a health care system with the resources to assist everyone,” Carroll said. “Health care isn’t limited to doctors and nurses, it includes therapists, social workers and even teachers. This law will provide our educators with the tools and training to help students facing mental illness.”

CHICAGO – Continuing her efforts to enact policies to address mental health wellness and suicide prevention, state Rep. Fran Hurley, D-Chicago, recently passed legislation that directs school districts to offer specialized training programs to employees, to better assist students who are experiencing mental health distress or disorders.

“Understanding mental health and wellness is very important, especially during adolescence, when young people are experiencing many changes in their lives and may not know how to cope,” said Hurley. “Youth may not know where to turn when they need help. Educators and other school personnel may recognize when there is a problem, but they may not know how to address the situation.”

Hurley recently attended the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Suicide Prevention and Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Policy conference, where Senate Bill 1731 and the work Illinois is doing to destigmatize mental health was highlighted. Serving as the chairperson of the Illinois House Human Services committee, Hurley has made mental health initiatives a top priority during her time in Springfield. Hurley worked to pass Senate Bill 1731, an initiative of the Illinois Association of Behavioral Health. This new law will allow school districts to use the Department of Human Services’ Illinois Mental Health First Aid training program to prepare employees on how to identify and take action for mental health issues.

Hurley’s measure follows legislation passed last year that required all licensed school personnel and administrators who work with students between kindergarten and 12th grade to be trained at least once every two years to identify the warning signs of mental illness and suicidal behavior. Under the training program, certified instructors provide employees examples of best practices to address mental health concerns, as well as how to refer cases to professional assistance if needed.

“Suicide prevention and helping young people work through mental health issues in a safe, school environment will help our students continue to succeed and grow into the productive members of society they are meant to be,” continued Hurley. “I am proud to have passed this new law, which will give school employees the tools they need to help students in crisis.”

For more information, contact Hurley’s constituent service office at 773-445-8128 or RepFranHurley@gmail.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, is calling attention to reforms of the children’s mental health system in Illinois.

“Children with serious mental health issues are some of our most vulnerable people,” Lilly said. “We must do everything we can in order to make sure those children are getting the care they need because early diagnosis and access to appropriate services can make the difference in the lives of children with serious mental illnesses.”

Lilly backed House Bill 2154 to require insurance companies to cover evidence-based treatment for serious mental illnesses among children, including community-based treatments that consist of teams of medical, behavioral and rehabilitation professionals. This will ensure that private insurance companies are conforming to treatment plans offered under Medicaid.

The Lilly-backed law will also create working groups dedicated to recommending additional reforms that will allow Illinois to achieve the goals of the federal Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA). The FFPSA, signed into law in 2018, reforms federal child welfare financing with the goal of preventing at-risk children from entering the foster care system by allowing federal reimbursement for children’s mental health services.

“A child’s mental health is as critical to their wellbeing as their physical health and serious mental illnesses can even lead to deteriorated physical health,” Lilly said. “By ensuring that families can access comprehensive treatments in their community for children with serious mental illnesses, we can help this vulnerable population achieve healthy social and emotional development.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Diane Pappas, D-Itasca, is working to guarantee critical mental and physical health services for new mothers with her support of a new law that requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to provide specialized maternal health care for all women.

“I’m committed to building a stronger Illinois, and that means providing health care to everyone who needs it, regardless of their income. Many new mothers have difficulty paying for all the medical services they need, and are unfortunately under-served,” Pappas said. “Our current health system is not doing nearly enough to support women with their pregnancies, and it’s time for that to change.”

Pappas helped pass House Bill 5, which requires DHS to establish a system for providing maternal care to women who are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or have recently given birth. The system will help women who require medical aid get to the right health care facility designed to treat their specific needs. This legislation was supported by both Democrats and Republicans and is now law.

Pappas has made lowering the cost of healthcare a key part of her legislative agenda; pushing for bills that reduce costs of medications, reign in health insurance premiums and preserve access to Affordable Care Act plans. Serious medical problems associated with maternity are not uncommon, but many go unaddressed because of the cost of caring for a new baby. In 2013, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported that almost 30,000 new moms experienced postpartum depression, in some cases for years after giving birth. Only 2 in 10 received medical treatment for their problem.

“The medical problems new mothers face are often incredibly serious, and can leave a lasting impact on both the mother and child,” Pappas said. “Issues like postpartum depression can make it extremely difficult to care for a newborn. Women need access to professional help to take care of themselves and their children, especially if they don’t have a strong support network at home. That help can’t be limited to the top income earners.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. John Connor, D-Lockport, is promoting better attitudes towards mental health with his backing of a new law requiring mental health education programs focus on students’ understanding of behaviors that promote mental well being.

“People struggling with mental health issues deserve to have a supportive community that is well-educated about what they’re going through,” Connor said. “This legislation will address shortcomings in our mental health instruction policies and help ensure that we approach these problems from an informed perspective.  As the old saying goes, never judge someone before you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.  This helps people walk in the shoes of someone struggling with mental illness, and discover that it’s not something that you can just ‘snap out of’or ‘power through’ all alone, without treatment assistance.  There is a lot of misinformation and superstition surrounding mental illness, even in our modern society.”

Building on his long history of working for a better mental health support system in Illinois, Connor supported Senate Bill 459, which requires instruction in Illinois mental health courses to include information on the relationship between mental and physical health. The goal of this change is to foster greater understanding of how mental health problems occur and can be managed. This legislation received strong bipartisan support and is now law.

“I am committed to building a stronger Illinois; an Illinois where no one is limited by the trying diseases they face, whether mental or physical,” Connor said. “This law will ensure that people with mental health problems have an understanding community to support them in trying times.”

CHICAGO – Continuing her Mental Health Monday event series, state Rep. Fran Hurley, D-Chicago, is inviting local veterans to a Veteran Wellness Seminar.

“Our men and women that have served in uniform have sacrificed so much to protect our freedoms here at home,” said Hurley. “It is incredibly important to ensure that our veterans are aware of the many resources available to them, especially those for their mental health and overall wellness.”

Rep. Hurley is partnering with the Road Home Program, which provides confidential mental health services for veterans and their families, for her Mental Health Monday event series. Local veterans and their families are invited to Hurley’s Veteran Wellness Seminar on Monday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m., at her district office, located at 10402 S. Western Ave. in Chicago. Experts from the Road Home Program will provide an informational session about mental health and wellness resources available to veterans.

“Many veterans suffer from invisible wounds,” continued Hurley. “Adjusting back to civilian life can be extremely difficult for those that have served, so it is critical that veterans have access to counseling and other resources that can help protect their wellbeing. I encourage local veterans, caretakers and family members to join me for my Veteran Wellness Seminar.”

If you are in immediate need of help, call 911 or the Veteran Crisis Center at 800-273-8255 or the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8235. All lines are available toll-free 24 hours every day. For more information, contact Hurley’s constituent service office at 773-445-8128 or RepFranHurley@gmail.com.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A new law backed by state Rep. Diane Pappas, D-Itasca, will require the Department of Human Services (DHS) to create a database of mental health resources to combat school shootings and lower suicide rates among teens battling mental health problems.

“Violence and suicide are tragic problems that we need to do more to address, and commonsense changes to our mental health system will prevent tremendous, unnecessary loss,” Pappas said. “Too many families have had to endure terrible experiences because we haven’t taken proper action to provide teens with mental health support, and it’s past time we did something about it.”

Pappas supported House Bill 907, which requires DHS to make a database of information on mental health treatment options available on their website for parents, teachers, school social workers and any others who might be able to provide help. The goal is to create an environment of information sharing and understanding about the underlying causes and treatments for bullying, depression and other problems that can lead to school shootings and suicide. Gov. Pritzker recently signed this legislation into law.

“We have many committed, caring people working in our schools, and even more parents and friends, all of whom can make a contribution in helping students get mental health care,” said Pappas. “This bill will ensure they have access to the right resources to know how to provide help effectively and quickly.”

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. John Connor, D-Lockport, is combatting tragic school shootings and promoting suicide prevention with a bill requiring the Department of Human Services (DHS) to provide a database of resources available to people around troubled teens to help prevent student mental health problems.

“Illinois is not doing nearly enough to curb teen violence and suicide, and there are simple changes that can make a world of difference,” Connor said. “After tragedy strikes, the words we often hear from people who knew the victim are, ‘If only we had known about the help that was available…’ I want to ensure that families and other school workers know where they can find help for a kid that’s having a hard time. I’m grateful to Gov. Pritzker for joining me in tackling such a pressing issue.”

Connor’s House Bill 907 requires the DHS to make a database of information on mental health treatment options available on their website for parents, teachers, school social workers and any others who might be able to provide help. The goal is to further an environment of information sharing and understanding about the underlying causes and treatments for bullying, depression and other problems which can lead to school shootings and suicide. Gov. Pritzker recently signed this legislation into law.

“Having prosecuted people who committed multiple murders, it’s disheartening to look at timelines of tragedies and see the impact that one small action at the right moment could have had,” Connor said. “Right now, we’re in a position to take those actions and avert those tragedies. My legislation won’t cost taxpayers anything, and if it saves even one life, it will have been worth the effort hundreds of times over.”