The bill, SB1560, requires all school districts to provide screening in grades 3 through 12 at least once a year.

Illinois has become the first state to offer annual mental health screenings to public school students in grades 3-12, in partnership with psychiatric hospitals, with the goal of shifting from crisis reaction to prevention.

This story contains mentions of suicide. With a backdrop of a hand-painted, student-made mural and a grinning slate of state legislators behind him, Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation on Thursday implementing mental health screenings at Illinois public schools at Chute Middle School,