Parents and more say they are not OK with it.
Governor J.B. Pritzker's new law makes Illinois the first state in the country to mandate mental health screenings for students in public schools, grades 3-12.
The law, set to take effect in the 2027–2028 school year, directs schools to provide self-conducted screenings each year using digital or paper forms. Parents will have the ability to opt their children out, Fox News reports.
Supporters say the initiative will help schools identify early signs of depression, anxiety or trauma — before they develop into crises. But critics argue the plan could create more problems than it solves.
David Smith of Illinois Family Institute says this is a problem.
“So, we're very concerned that the Illinois General Assembly and Governor Pritzker approved this.”
He said this is not an opt-in program. It is an opt out opportunity, meaning your child will be sent to these mental screenings unless you take specific action. If a parent is unaware, the child will go through screening.
“Their kids will go through, be subjected to secular psychologists and mental health experts who are going to diagnose them with various mental illnesses, if they don't get them out now. Get 'em out, opt them out of these programs,” Smith said.
When they say mental health—what do they mean?
"Who is defining mental illness? According to many of our friends on the Left, xenophobia is something that conservatives (have) who want border security to be a major part of our national security … xenophobia. Well that, that could be a mental illness. Phobia … we've got homophobia, we've got transphobia, we've got all kinds of things. Hey, if you're a climate change denier, all these things, what does this mean?"
Questions abound. How hard will schools work to make sure parents are aware of important dates? What will be the remedies for these "mental illnesses," and how will the kids who are considered in need of mental help be treated?
"Does it mean reprogramming them to believe secular, godless beliefs and accept pronoun changes and gender affirming care and all these kinds of things? These things should not be left to chance, and the parents need to opt their children out of these programs as soon as school starts."
Parents must educate themselves, Smith says. The Illinois Family Institute can help.
"We have a form on our website illinoisfamily.org. We have a whole article on opting them out of this and comprehensive Sex Ed classes and other controversial issues, but this mental health screening, it should be alarming for all parents and grandparents."
