The Wellness Checks in Schools Program Act is set to be implemented by the next school year, offering a proactive approach to addressing mental health challenges among students. This legislation, applicable to Illinois’ 2 million students, aims to introduce yearly mental health screenings as a preventive measure.
The law is designed to create an avenue for students and their families to explore the concept of counseling early on, fostering awareness and intervention before potential issues escalate. However, certain details of the implementation remain to be clarified, such as the nature of the screenings and the responsible parties for conducting them.
Kevin Polky from KP Counseling emphasized the need for confidentiality and raised questions about the specific procedures. While uncertainties persist, Polky suggested that the screenings might follow a pattern similar to vision and hearing screenings, often conducted by trained nurses.
Paula Peters, a therapist at Marshmallow’s Hope and former school social worker, emphasized that traditional one-on-one therapy sessions may not be the most effective for all students. She suggested that large group settings could be more beneficial for obtaining information and addressing mental health concerns.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that nearly 3 million American children suffer from depression. The new law, amending the Illinois Public Aid Code, reflects a commitment to proactively address mental health issues among students.