Illinois to become first state to perform annual ‘mental health’ screenings on public school students

Never fear, Illinois parents, the state is here to help!

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a first-of-its-kind law that will start regular mental health evaluations in public schools. The program plans to begin in 2027 and will perform annual screenings for students in the third grade and up, WGN reported.

“As governor of this great state, as a father, and as a great advocate for mental health, this is an issue that is both important and very personal to me,” Pritzker said. “Our goal is an integrated, comprehensive approach to quality mental and behavioral health services for young people across the state.”

The Illinois Board of Education will work with children’s behavioral experts to implement the program that, for now, can be opted out of by parents.

“Just as with vision and hearing screenings, parents can opt out if they wish,” Dr. Dana Weiner, who helped develop the program, said. “But what we have heard from families and from young people is that an annual check on sadness, worry, fear, and other problems would help to identify young people who need to talk before they experience the crisis that makes, that require, more serious, even hospital-based interventions.”

Six state agencies will be involved in the process, according to Pritzker.

“We will begin equipping school districts with the resources necessary to implement universal mental health screenings, just as we have been screening for vision, hearing challenges that students have had for many years,” the governor said. “We will now provide assessments for mental health.”

What could go wrong? X users predicted plenty:

Exactly & part of why the dept of education needs to be dismantled. All part of the control structure that shapes & molds the minds of each generation sucking them into the system

Well known for those who read books.

Parents do not understand the risk.
20+ yr old clip
So hard… pic.twitter.com/u0j31zsIdm

— mpetrus (@mpetrus19) August 1, 2025

Yes, there is opt out. Although will parents be told by the school they can opt out?
And…how long before there is no opt out?
The slippery slope, as ever.

— Beverly A. Pekala (@PekalaLaw) August 1, 2025

Every parent should opt out.
But will parents be told by the schools that they can opt out?

— Beverly A. Pekala (@PekalaLaw) August 1, 2025

Even if not from the schools, there will likely be enormous social pressure on the parents not to.

it is surveillance. it will be weaponized. and it implants suggestions of mental illness into the young. it seems their main target is the old and the young.

— b. maat (@bmaat99) August 1, 2025

Another tool for The Regime to ensure indoctrination. Leave the public school system if at all possible.

— Mark, Darkly Optimistic (@mkos66) August 1, 2025

With all the wacktard public school teachers, all the teachers need to have annual mental health screenings.

— Governor Pritzker’s Eunuch Cousin (@GovernorCousin) August 1, 2025

“So, the school psych said you played with a doll during recess…” pic.twitter.com/hn2A1v2Mga

— SpeedSixGuy (@GuySix) August 1, 2025

If only the kids could read.

— Beverly A. Pekala (@PekalaLaw) August 1, 2025

Latest posts by Nicole Haas (see all)

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.