Illinois is taking a major step to address youth mental health with a new law, Senate Bill 1560, championed by State Senator Sara Feigenholtz. The law mandates universal mental health screenings for students in grades three through twelve once the state provides screening tools at no cost to schools. The goal is early identification of issues such as sadness, hopelessness, and academic struggles. Parents retain the choice to opt their children out. Support will be available through the BEACON portal, a centralized resource to connect families with appropriate behavioral health services. The law takes effect January 1, 2026.
“This phase of the Children’s Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative is the boldest step to date,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “Universal mental health screenings in schools help with early identification, and if a child requires services, the BEACON portal is there to assist in accessing comprehensive support and behavioral health services.”
“The State Board of Education has worked hard to understand what supports are needed by the school districts to identify and respond to mental health challenges,” said Chief Behavioral Health Officer Dana Weiner. “It is the collaboration across multiple state agencies, communities and providers that has made it possible to provide the districts with what they need so that they can promote not only the education but also the health and well-being of all students.”