SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois has made significant investments in mental and behavioral healthcare since the COVID-19 pandemic. A bill heading to Gov. JB Pritzker's desk could make Illinois one of the first states to provide universal mental health screenings for young children and teens.
Early detection can be critical to help youth receive the best mental health services. Senate Bill 1560 could require public schools to offer age appropriate, confidential mental health screenings to identify mental health concerns and link students to support. Students in grades 3 through 12 would participate in the screenings once per school year.
"For a younger person, like in third or fourth grade, it could even exist on a tablet," said Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D-Chicago). "The young student answers a series of questions, maybe even with graphics, that say I am feeling happy, I am feeling sad, or I am feeling worried."
Parents and guardians would have the ability to opt out of the screenings for their children if they don't want them to participate. Sponsors said Illinois must protect student privacy and ensure schools have the tools they need for early intervention services.
House Republicans said they appreciated the intent of this bill, but some argued the devil is in the details.
"These screenings are geared toward identifying potential issues based upon answers given to specific questions," said Rep. Steve Reick (R-Woodstock). "It's only fair to ask what are the areas of concern to be addressed. We're not able to be given the answers here. We don't know."
GOP members also said the legislation should allow families to opt into mental health screenings rather than having an opt out process.
"We are talking about the epidemic of mental health that is plaguing our children throughout the state, regardless of what district you're in," said Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Highland Park). "I would have thought it would've been an agreed upon principle that we would all want to help identify mental illness and support our students when necessary and whenever we can."
Senate Bill 1560 passed out of the House on a 72-36 vote last week. It previously gained unanimous support in the Senate.
The legislation would take effect at the start of the 2027-28 school year if Pritzker signs the bill into law.
"No child should have to struggle in silence," LaPointe said. "This bill is a proactive way we can integrate early detection, because too often warning signs are missed or dismissed and kids fall through the cracks."
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