Public Act 0195 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB1538 Enrolled LRB098 08366 KTG 38471 b

Public Act 098-0195

AN ACT concerning health.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Illinois Mental Health First Aid Training Act.

Section 5. Purpose. Through the use of innovative strategies, Mental Health First Aid training shall be implemented throughout the State. Mental Health First Aid training is designed to train individuals to assist someone who is developing a mental health disorder or an alcohol or substance abuse disorder, or who is experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis and it can be reasonably assumed that a mental health disorder or an alcohol or substance abuse disorder is a contributing or precipitating factor.

Section 10. Definitions.

"Illinois Mental Health First Aid training program" means the Mental Health First Aid training program administered by the Department of Human Services.

"Certified trainers" means individuals who obtain certification in Mental Health First Aid training by successfully completing (i) the Instructor Training Program offered by the Illinois Mental Health First Aid training program or (ii) the Instructor Training Program offered by the National Authorities of Mental Health First Aid.

Section 15. Illinois Mental Health First Aid training program. The Department of Human Services shall administer the Illinois Mental Health First Aid training program so that certified trainers can provide Illinois residents, professionals, and members of the public with training on how to identify and assist someone who is believed to be developing or has developed a mental health disorder or an alcohol or substance abuse disorder or who is believed to be experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis.

Section 20. Mental health first aid training grants. Subject to appropriations made to the Department of Human Services and other State agencies, the Department of Human Services and other State agencies shall support training grants for Illinois Mental Health First Aid training. These training grants may support hardship subsidies for Illinois Mental Health First Aid training fees.

Section 25. Objectives of the training program. The Illinois Mental Health First Aid training program shall be designed to train individuals to accomplish the following objectives as deemed appropriate for the individuals to be trained, taking into consideration the individual's age:

(1) Build mental health, alcohol abuse, and substance abuse literacy designed to help the public identify, understand, and respond to the signs of mental illness, alcohol abuse, and substance abuse.

(2) Assist someone who is believed to be developing or has developed a mental health disorder or an alcohol or substance abuse disorder or who is believed to be experiencing a mental health disorder or an alcohol or substance abuse crisis. Such assistance shall include the following:

(A) Knowing how to recognize the symptoms of a mental health disorder or an alcohol or substance abuse disorder.

(B) Knowing how to provide initial help.

(C) Knowing how to guide individuals requiring assistance toward appropriate professional help, including help for individuals who may be in crisis.

(D) Knowing how to provide comfort to the person experiencing a mental health disorder or an alcohol or substance abuse disorder.

(E) Knowing how to prevent a mental health disorder or an alcohol or substance abuse disorder from deteriorating into a more serious condition which may lead to more costly interventions and treatments.

(F) Knowing how to promote healing, recovery, and good mental health.

Section 30. Distribution of training grants. When awarding training grants under this Act, the Department or other appropriate State agency shall distribute training grants equitably among the geographical regions of the State paying particular attention to the training needs of rural areas and areas with underserved populations or professional shortages.

Section 35. Evaluation. The Department of Human Services, as the Illinois Mental Health First Aid training authority, shall ensure that evaluative criteria are established which measure the distribution of the training grants and the fidelity of the training processes to the objective of building mental health, alcohol abuse, and substance abuse literacy designed to help the public identify, understand, and respond to the signs of mental illness, alcohol abuse, and substance abuse.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.