Illinois Governor JB Pritzker just took a bold step to ensure students’ mental health needs are being met. He recently signed a law requiring mental health screenings for every public school student. This transformational bill just got signed on Thursday! Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, students in grades 3 through 12 would be required to have an annual mental health screening. With this move, Illinois becomes the first state in the United States to implement universal mental health assessments for public school students.
Under the new law, schools are now required to assess students’ mental health. This assessment would be in addition to the typical annual vision and hearing screenings. The legislation requires that all students be screened annually at a minimum. This methodical approach goes straight for and directly addresses the mental health concerns of all kids and teens.
Governor Pritzker emphasized the importance of this effort in a press release from his office. He noted that youth suicide and hospitalization rates due to self-harm have tripled as anxiety and depression are increasing rapidly. He stated, “At a time when our kids are struggling with anxiety and depression more than ever before, it’s our responsibility to ensure that young people have all the support that they need to get the help that they deserve.”
The introduction of this law comes shortly after the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw approximately $1 billion in funding for mental health grants. Fortunately, Governor Pritzker’s administration is actively working to change that. Beyond that, they are working to connect resources and support to encourage schools to do them in high quality ways.
Pritzker outlined the broader vision behind the legislation, expressing, “Our goal is an integrated, comprehensive approach to quality mental and behavioral health services for young people across the state.” This approach exemplifies the state’s commitment to prioritizing the needs of students with mental health challenges in creating a supportive and safe environment.
Illinois is preparing for a monumental shift. Public schools will need to develop policies that establish the process of adding mental health screenings to existing physical health assessment procedures. The law goes so far as to promote detection of at-risk students. It aims to deliver the focused nurturing and guidance they require to flourish academically and socially.
