Illinois becomes first state to mandate annual mental health screenings in public schools

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Illinois becomes the first date to mandate annual mental health
screenings for public school students in grades three through twelve.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
What does that mean?

Speaker 1 (00:11):
This law is going to take effect in the twenty
seven to twenty eight school year, and parents can opt
their children out of the screenings. Oh, the screenings will
be self conducted via digital or pay per forms. They're
intended to flag early signs of depression, anxiety, or trauma,
not diagnose them.

Speaker 2 (00:32):
And then what let's say your kid answers something and
they have an early sign of that, what does like
the DCS people show up or like what? Why is
this the school's job? That's your job as a parent, right,
I mean.

Speaker 1 (00:49):
Doesn't it seem like it's a bit of an overstep?

Speaker 2 (00:51):
Well, and that's my question is what's the end goal
with this? Like why is the school? Why is the
government at all qualified to be engaging in this? And
what's some generic answer on a piece of paper is?
And then what you, like I said, then what you
send in the send in the in the army? Like
what what? Why? Why would you do this?

Speaker 1 (01:13):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (01:13):
I'm with you, this sounds like a horrible idea.

Speaker 1 (01:15):
The state superintendent said that this is a shift from
reaction to prevention in regards to students' mental health. This
is the job of mom and dad.

Speaker 2 (01:27):
Yeah, you're right, and this is another example of the
government trying to usurp your that authority say that we
know better, and I would be I mean, And then
here's the thing you can opt out.

Speaker 1 (01:46):
For now right now, I'm I'm all for normalizing mental health.
But another thing to consider with this is that this
could create some issues with your insurance coverage as well.

Speaker 2 (02:02):
Well. Right, that's an interesting It's interesting that you would
say that because, let's say the government identifies your kid,
oh my gosh, junior, based on answer to question twenty seven,
is the dire need of some sort of mental health counseling? Well,

(02:23):
who's paying for that? Or does that become your responsibility?
Does the government get to dictate that? And I come
back to the fact that you're in charge of your kid.
That's your job. And this sounds like something that will
not be able to opt out of in the not

(02:45):
too distant future.