Public Act 098-0195
 
HB1538 EnrolledLRB098 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.