FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, January 31, 2022
CONTACT
Caroline Wellford
Caroline@cstrategies.com
NAMI CHICAGO, YOUNG INVINCIBLES FIGHT FOR MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING ON ILLINOIS’ COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES
New legislation introduced on Friday would provide long-delayed funding for a campus mental health bill that became law in 2019
CHICAGO, IL – Today, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Chicago and Young Invincibles announced the filing of the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Appropriations Act, vital new legislation to fund mental health supports for Illinois’ college students. HB5424 was filed Friday in the Illinois State House by State Representative La Shawn K. Ford, who has been a leader and advocate for struggling students across the state. Companion legislation, SB4055, was filed by State Senator Celina Villanueva in the Illinois State Senate, who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving higher education services. NAMI Chicago and Young Invincibles are championing this legislation as part of a longtime advocacy campaign for campus mental health services.
HB5424/SB4055 would appropriate $19 million in Illinois’ 2023 fiscal year to fully fund the 2019 Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act (MHEACA), which required all public two- and four-year colleges and universities to support the mental health of students by:
- Increasing training and awareness among faculty, staff, and students;
- Building better mental health screening to better identify students in need;
- Improving capacity to provide mental health treatment and peer support on campus; and
- creating a statewide Technical Assistance Center to assist in implementation and quality assurance.
Although the MHEACA was signed into law in 2019, it was not funded – leaving colleges and universities who welcomed the new requirements scrambling to create necessary change.
“Many students experience their first mental health challenges or crisis during college,” said Rachel Bhagwat, Director of Policy at NAMI Chicago. “They are managing school and work stress, being away from home, and many are in a common age range for mental health conditions to emerge. Illinois students need our support, and NAMI Chicago is determined to secure the funding our colleges and universities need to help them thrive.”
Increased mental health support for our college students comes at a crucial time. One third of all college students have been diagnosed with a mental health condition – a 14% increase in the last decade – yet only 25% of college students receive treatment despite serious implications. Research shows that graduation rates are lower for students with mental health conditions, especially for Black, Latinx, and low income students and dropout rates are 2.5x higher. Additionally, 89% of college students reported stress or anxiety due to COVID-19 in the Fall of 2020.
“This important step in the longtime advocacy campaign for mental health services on campus would not be possible without the young adults whose voices advanced this fight,” said Lily Rocha, Midwest Regional Director for Young Invincibles. “It is time we fund campus mental health services. This legislation represents a critical investment in the lives and futures of students in Illinois, and NAMI Chicago and YI will continue our advocacy to get it across the finish line. We urge members of the legislature to join us in our fight to expand mental health access to students across Illinois.”
House Higher Education Chair Katie Stuart and House Mental Health & Addiction Chair Deb Conroy have also been vital leaders in the fight for campus mental health funding, advancing hearings with State Rep. Ford last fall that laid the groundwork for this bill.
HB5424/SB4055 would fund the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act by appropriating $19 Million in Fiscal Year 2023 for campus mental health education, supports and screening. Funding would go directly to Illinois’ public colleges and universities, based on figures recommended by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (CGFA). HB5424/SB4055 also requires CGFA to determine future appropriations needed to continue implementing the act in FY24 and beyond.
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About NAMI Chicago
Since 1979, NAMI Chicago has fought for families and individuals impacted by mental health conditions through promoting community wellness, breaking down barriers to mental health care and providing support and expertise for families, professionals and individuals in Chicago and beyond. Guided by the experiences of those living with mental health conditions and rooted in equity, NAMI Chicago educates to fight stigma and discrimination, fiercely advocates for our community, and shares hope, connection and expertise with people on their mental health journey. To learn more, visit https://www.namichicago.org/.
About Young Invincibles
Young Invincibles (YI) is a think tank and national advocacy organization with offices across the country, including California, Colorado, Texas, Illinois, and New York. YI champions young adults ages 18 to 34 by uplifting their voices and advocating in support of policies that advance young people at the state and federal levels. YI informs their advocacy work with quantitative research on issues of higher education, health care, economic security, and civic engagement. For more information, please contact Juan Ramiro Sarmiento at (785) 760-6567 or juan.sarmiento@younginvincibles.org