OTTAWA – 2020 is a win for mental health reform in Illinois. By next year, several bills geared around mental health will be put into law, including one that targets college campus’. In March, The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Illinois Chapter lobbied for an law that would require colleges and universities to raise mental health awareness. Effective by July, the state will require each institute to designate an expert panel to implement policies that advise students and faculty on the proper procedures for addressing the needs of students exhibiting symptoms of mental health conditions. Ottawa Attorney, and member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Alexis Ferractui, says students will be actively told where they can seek help on campus as new students and be made aware of any resources pertaining to mental health. The suicide hotline number is also changing from 800-273-TALK to 9-8-8.
