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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Millions of people in the U.S. are affected by
3mental illness each year; according to the National Alliance
4on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five U.S. adults experience
5mental illness each year, and one in six U.S. youth aged 6-17
6experience a mental health disorder each year; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Mental health treatment can help make recovery a
8reality but is not available to everyone; according to NAMI,
947.2% of U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment in
102021, and 50.6% of U.S. youth aged 6-17 with a mental health
11disorder received treatment in 2016; and
 
12    WHEREAS, There are various organizations and agencies in
13Illinois that are paving pathways for identification and
14treatment of mental illness; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Interagency efforts to improve access to services
16are led by the Chief Officer for Children's Behavioral Health
17Transformation and the Chief Behavioral Health Officer by
18streamlining access to care and providing families with
19consistent transparent solutions to mental health challenges;
20and
 
21    WHEREAS, Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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1        (11) Accurate diagnosis(es) by qualified
2    professionals;
3        (12) Access to affordable and accessible medication
4    when needed;
5        (13) Information and documentation about one's own
6    mental health care;
7        (14) Information about and assistance with
8    understanding the evidence for the effectiveness of
9    services, the estimated timeframes for receiving care, the
10    estimated cost of care, and the availability of financial
11    assistance;
12        (15) Care that is coordinated across treatment
13    providers, state agencies, and funders; and
14        (16) Appropriate accommodations to access other rights
15    such as K-12 education; therefore, be it
 
16    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
17ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we endorse these
18principles as the Mental Health Bill of Rights in an effort to
19reinforce Illinois' commitment to providing access to families
20seeking diagnosis and/or treatment of a mental or behavioral
21health concern; and be it further
 
22    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
23delivered to the Governor and the Director of the Department
24of Healthcare and Family Services.