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Illinois

Learn more about suicide and prevention efforts in Illinois, including a list of laws enacted in AFSP's top priority areas. Updated: February 2024.

Illinois suicide prevention plans and initiatives

The Suicide Prevention, Education and Treatment Act (§ 410 ILCS 53/) created the Illinois Suicide Prevention Alliance in 2004, which serves as an advisory board to the Illinois Department of Public Health (DPH) and strives to bring together public and private stakeholders to implement the state’s Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan. In January 2019, the updated Illinois Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan, Updated Goals and Objectives 2018-2021 was released. In August 2019, the Act was amended to give new responsibilities to DPH and the Alliance, including requiring the development of a new state plan to be submitted to the General Assembly and Governor within one year. After reviewing the 2018-2021 plan, reflecting on accomplishments, modifying the objectives, and identifying recommended action steps, DPH and the Alliance published the Illinois Suicide Prevention Strategic Plan: Directions, Goals, and Objectives 2020. In December of 2023, DPH published the 2021-2023 Suicide Prevention Report.

Illinois laws

Key:

  • Required by law
  • Encouraged by law
  • No law in place

Crisis lines and 988 implementation

  • Addresses 988 infrastructure and provides for telecom user fee
  • Addresses 988 infrastructure but does not include telecom user fee
  • 988 law limited to creating an exploratory commission, advisory committee, or task force

Mental health parity

  • Public health plans (e.g., Medicaid) regularly submit parity compliance analyses to state regulators
  • Private health plans (individual and group) regularly submit parity compliance analyses to state regulators

K – 12 school suicide prevention

  • Inclusion of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and/or other crisis line(s) on student ID cards
  • Student allowances for excused mental health absences
  • School personnel must report student suicide risk to a parent and/or guardian
  • Suicide prevention and/or mental health training for certain school personnel, annual
  • Suicide prevention and/or mental health training for certain school personnel, not annual
  • Suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention policies/programming
  • Student education on suicide prevention
  • Student education on mental health

Health professional training in suicide assessment, treatment and management

  • Mental health professionals receive regular training
  • Mental health professionals receive one time training
  • Medical/surgical professionals receive regular training
  • Medical/surgical professionals receive one time training

Conversion therapy bans

  • Prohibits licensed/board certified mental health providers from engaging in conversion therapy with minors under 18 years of age
  • Prohibits licensed/board certified mental health providers from engaging in conversion therapy with vulnerable adults
  • Prohibits use of state funds for any purpose related to conversion therapy (e.g., conducting, making a referral for, or extending health benefits coverage for)

University and college campus suicide prevention

  • Inclusion of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and/or other crisis line(s) on student ID cards
  • Students receive information on available mental health and/or suicide prevention services and/or resources
  • Adoption of suicide prevention/awareness policy or program

Advocate for suicide prevention

Learn how our volunteer Field Advocates are helping to pass suicide prevention legislation and policies that can save lives