Bill Text: IL SR0912 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Endorses certain principles as the Mental Health Bill of Rights in an effort to reinforce Illinois' commitment to providing access to families seeking diagnosis and/or treatment of a mental or behavioral health concern.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-04-16 - Referred to Assignments [SR0912 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SR0912-Introduced.html

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SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Millions of people in the U.S. are affected by
mental illness each year; according to the National Alliance
on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five U.S. adults experience
mental illness each year, and one in six U.S. youth aged 6-17
experience a mental health disorder each year; and
WHEREAS, Mental health treatment can help make recovery a
reality but is not available to everyone; according to NAMI,
47.2% of U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment in
2021, and 50.6% of U.S. youth aged 6-17 with a mental health
disorder received treatment in 2016; and
WHEREAS, There are various organizations and agencies in
Illinois that are paving pathways for identification and
treatment of mental illness; and
WHEREAS, Interagency efforts to improve access to services
are led by the Chief Officer for Children's Behavioral Health
Transformation and the Chief Behavioral Health Officer by
streamlining access to care and providing families with
consistent transparent solutions to mental health challenges;
and
WHEREAS, Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed

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in May in the U.S. since 1949, a tradition that continues to
this day to raise awareness of mental health; and
WHEREAS, When facing mental or behavioral health concerns,
all Illinoisans, regardless of age, zip code, socio-economic
status, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, race,
or ethnicity should have the right to be:
(1) Educated about mental health and social-emotional
well-being;
(2) Treated with dignity and respect;
(3) Able to seek help for mental health challenges
free from shame or stigma;
(4) Informed about eligibility for mental health and
substance use disorder services and programs in
understandable language;
(5) Active in developing one's own mental health care
plan;
(6) Able to initiate, disengage from, or resume
voluntary services;
(7) Assured privacy and confidentiality;
(8) Supported to meet the needs of one's own family;
and
(9) Aware of how to find and access mental health
services and resources; and
WHEREAS, When facing mental or behavioral health concerns,

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all Illinoisans, regardless of age, zip code, socio-economic
status, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, race,
or ethnicity should have the right to receive:
(1) Assistance in finding, navigating, and choosing
mental health services that fit with one's needs, goals,
and values;
(2) Healing-centered care that focuses on recovery,
strengths, and goals that supports overall well-being and
inclusion in community and family life;
(3) Timely and compassionate healing-centered crisis
intervention services;
(4) Culturally informed services and supports that
consider the unique needs of each culture and language;
(5) Access to interpretation and translation to
facilitate participation in needed services;
(6) Family-focused services that empower and educate
parents and caregivers to be prepared and supported in
raising healthy children;
(7) Services in one's own community or community of
choice;
(8) Information, services, and documentation in the
language of one's choice;
(9) High quality, evidence-based, responsive mental
health care in the appropriate, least restrictive setting
of one's choosing;
(10) Peer support services;

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(11) Accurate diagnosis(es) by qualified
professionals;
(12) Access to affordable and accessible medication
when needed;
(13) Information and documentation about one's own
mental health care;
(14) Information about and assistance with
understanding the evidence for the effectiveness of
services, the estimated timeframes for receiving care, the
estimated cost of care, and the availability of financial
assistance;
(15) Care that is coordinated across treatment
providers, state agencies, and funders; and
(16) Appropriate accommodations to access other rights
such as K-12 education; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we endorse these
principles as the Mental Health Bill of Rights in an effort to
reinforce Illinois' commitment to providing access to families
seeking diagnosis and/or treatment of a mental or behavioral
health concern; and be it further