One in five Illinois citizens will experience a mental disorder this year. Fortunately, there are many effective treatments for mental illness. Unfortunately, many people with mental illnesses in Illinois are not receiving appropriate treatment. That is because, while Illinois is 9th in per capita income, we currently rank 30th in per capita mental health spending.
Mental illness is the second leading cause of disability and premature death.
Untreated mental illness can lead to reduced productivity, unemployment, suicide, homelessness and, sometimes, criminal behavior. Insufficient community mental health services are largely responsible for the fact that the Cook County Jail houses more persons with mental illness than any mental hospital in the United States. These funds will be targeted to expanding those treatment programs which are most effective. For example, many in Illinois are receiving some of the newer medications which are more effective and have fewer side effects. However, because of lack of funds, many other people are receiving less effective medications w ith painful side effects.