Public Act 098-0195

HB1538 Enrolled LRB098 08366 KTG 38471 b

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.