Illinois Mental Illness Bill Signed into Law by Governor Blagojevich

According to the Treatment Advocacy Center, the new Senate bill 234, as signed by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, will help improve the state's mental illness treatment law. The new law, set to go into effect in June 2008, loosens the strictness of standards that allowed intervention of individuals with incapacitating symptoms related to illnesses such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The current Illinois law only requires that an individual who is in danger to others, as well as themselves, be court-order to enter into a mental illness treatment program.

According to the acting executive director of the national Treatment Advocacy Center, Jonathan Stanley, the new law expands the needed mental treatment for individuals affected by mental illness. He says that the new law will help make the treatment for mental illness more humane and rational.

AOT (assisted outpatient treatment) has proven to save both lives and money. It has also helped lower rates of homelessness, incarcerations, arrests and hospitalization.

The bill's chief sponsor, Senator Dale Righter, says that the passage of SB 235 is a major victory for the state's mental health system. The bill was also sponsored by Representative David Leitch.

Lora Thomas, the executive director of NAMI Illinois, says that the new law helps individuals get the needed assistance for dangerously ill individuals to receive mental health treatment.

Karen Gheradini, a family member of Senator Righter, brought the legislation to the Senator's attention. Her brother required much needed attention with regards to mental illness treatment. For the last five years, she has been an advocate for reforms as detailed in the new law.

TAC is a nonprofit organization whose goals are to promote laws, practices and policies for psychotic care. They support the development of innovative mental illness treatment as research of the causes of severe and constant psychiatric illnesses like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.