Issue 3
August- September 2022
Welcome
Hello, fellow Illinoisans!
It is hard to believe that it is September, and with it a change of seasons and the start of another school year. It is also the month we celebrate and observe both Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Month. Recovery Month is a national observance led by the Faces and Voices of Recovery and seeks to celebrate recovery from mental health and substance use disorder challenges in the same way overcoming physical health challenges are celebrated. National Suicide Prevention Month is both a somber time and a clear call to action, to shatter stigma and work towards a world where there are no deaths by suicide. This is especially relevant following the roll-out of988. Illinois is at the forefront of this work, from ensuring clear messaging across the state for 988 implementation to working towards the expansion of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) so that our communities are places and spaces where people can thrive.
We know that some of the best behavioral health systems in the world, Australia as one example, address and integrate not only behavioral health, but also the environment, economics, structural and institutional racism, physical health and more. It is my intent, with the continued partnership of each of you, to make Illinois the best in the world. Before closing, I want to thank all of you, the behavioral health professionals across this great state, who are working every day to support others, including those disproportionately impacted by the pandemic within our communities. I include you when I think of the sacrifices that have been made over the past 2.5 years by direct support professionals and, as you support the well-being of others, please remember to take care of yourselves, too.
Be well,
David T. Jones
Chief Behavioral Health Officer
Back to School
Resources are available for professionals, families, children and individuals as we move into the new schoolyear. Nationally, there are resources available for access, dissemination and reference, including toolkits from Mental Health America, The Jed Foundation, The Child Mind Institute, NAMI and the Crisis Text Line. Please check them out at your convenience.
At the state level, there is a Children's Behavioral Health Transformation underway, led by Director Dana Weiner. This transformative effort is examining factors such as the needs of children requiring behavioral health services, resource availability, eligibility requirements for accessing care, infrastructure needs, best practices, and more, in order to transform the service system that supports children's mental health. To learn more about the great work happening in this space and to join her distribution list, contact Director Weiner atdana.a.weiner@illinois.gov.
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) website is another excellent resource for learning more about these resources and supports.
Any questions related to mental and behavioral health supports in schools can be directed to ISBE's Wellness Department by calling 217-782-5270.
The Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery Bureau of Prevention Services also has agreements with substance use prevention organizations across the state to provide information that supports youth and their families locally. They also support the Youth Prevention Resource Center to develop information and materials for youth and their parents. To learn more, check out the Youth Prevention Resource Center, where you can access several resources, including information about vaping, suicide, and more. You can also check out the Department of Human Services School Based Mental Health Database for access to an online database and resource page with mental health resources related to bullying and school shootings.
Innovative Partnerships
The Biden-Harris Administration has demonstrated unprecedented federal support for mental health across the country. Most recently, the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (PDF) addresses gun reform for the first time in the United States in decades and a willingness to tackle the gun violence public health crisis.
In Illinois, Governor Pritzker announced up to $100 million dollars in grants to advance anti-violence funding. These funds, available as part of the Reimagine Public Safety Act , will have a transformative impact across the state. Leading the way is Assistant Secretary Chris Patterson, head of the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention. The work of his office will ensure an impactful, trauma informed, and equitable response to the needs of Illinoisans.
Stay tuned for an upcoming podcast between Chief Jones and Assistant Secretary Patterson where we will invite elected officials and community stakeholders to join us as we work towards a more trauma-informed system and dispel myths that relate to behavioral health and violence.
Investing in Behavioral Health: It's Worth It
A landmark report from the Satcher Health Leadership Institute was published this month, successfully arguing that a failure to adequately invest in behavioral health has had dire consequences from both a health equity and an economical lens. Put simply: investing in behavioral health will improve health equity and the economy. From this perspective, to do otherwise is not only unethical but foolish.
In order to maximize the opportunities uncovered as a result of this decisive research, the authors present"...a series of solutions that stem from three key pillars to guide, and ultimately impact, policy decision making:
- Make sustainable, long-term investments into mental and behavioral health systems, including programs, treatments, supports, and interventions that will advance mental health equity
- Develop socio-culturally tailored approaches to mental and behavioral health services and programs
- Address the social and political determinants of health inequities."
I am proud that Illinois is at the forefront of investments such as the ones outlined above. From innovative programming as a result of the Cannabis Revenue Tax Act to Illinois joining, along with more than 4,000 state and local governments across the country, including the Attorney General and many State's Attorneys in Illinois, a suit against opioid manufacturers responsible for improper marketing and distribution of opioids, Illinois is always thinking about how to use dollars efficiently and effectively. On February 25, 2022, manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and three distributors (McKesson, AmerisourceBergen, and Cardinal Health) finalized a $26 billion opioid settlement agreement.
The State of Illinois received a portion of the $26 billion settlement funds to be expended over 18 years. The Illinois Department of Human Services is administering the Illinois Opioid Remediation State Trust Fund. The funds will support forward-looking opioid abatement strategies to prevent opioid use disorders and promote recovery.
For more information about these efforts, contact DoIT.SUPRHELP@ILLINOIS.GOV, subject: Opioid Settlement. HELP IS AVAILABLE
