New State Campaign Encourges Good Mental Health

(Chicago, IL) — With data suggesting that one in five Illinois residents is experiencing a mental health challenge at any one time, a new public education campaign has been launched to promote good mental health.

The new statewide “Say it Out Loud” campaign is jointly sponsored by the State of Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health, and the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership, a network of more than 30 organizations across the state.

The campaign was unveiled on May 1 at a rally on Chicago’s Navy Pier as the state began its annual observance of Mental Health Awareness Month.

Data shows 70-90 percent of mental health diagnoses are treatable, but that fewer than half of the people actually seek treatment.

The campaign is using the stories of real people in advertisements being distributed to newspapers and radio stations in the state, and through videos featured on the campaign’s new Web site, http://www.mentalhealthillinois.org.

New Study Ranks Illinois 51st in U.S. for Developmental Disabilities Funding; NAMI Grades Illinois “F” for Mental Health Service Access

(Springfield, IL) — A new report–2008 State of the States in Developmental Disabilities–ranks Illinois 51st in the United States in funding for community residential DD services.

Illinois ranked behind the District of Columbia.

In addition, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) has once again given Illinois an ‘F’ for its lack of funding to ensure access to community MH services.

At a Springfield press conference on April 30, Janet Stover, Executive Director of the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities said, “An investment of $300-$400 million is projected for community DD and MH services to begin to address the needs in the community system and to help Illinois move away from its 51st and failing status nationally.”

According to the University of Illinois Rate Study, commissioned by the General Assembly, the community services system is underfunded by as much as 25%. Meanwhile. a report commissioned by the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, suggests the DD system needs at least $200 – $250 million to bring Illinois to mid-point among resource investment made by states nationally.