Prairie State Wire

Jeanne Ives, Founder of Breakthrough Ideas, expressed concerns over universal mental health screenings in Illinois schools, stating they risk misdiagnosis and should not be government-funded. The statement was made on the social media platform X.

"This is dangerous nanny-state policy," said Ives. "Having the government evaluate a child for any reason, but especially mental health, which is very subjective, will result in wrong diagnosis and unnecessary treatments, especially in our Woke IL schools. Just because it is offered, doesn't mean parents should have the school evaluate mental health. Parents with troubled kids who need mental health can find their own provider."

Illinois has become the first state to mandate universal mental health screenings for all public school students in grades 3–12, beginning in the 2027–28 school year. This development follows Governor Pritzker's signing of SB 1560. According to Capitol News Illinois, supporters argue that early screenings will help prevent crises, while critics raise concerns about privacy and government overreach.

K-12 Dive reports that Illinois will provide districts with free screening tools for these annual checks. National data indicate that youth depression and suicidal ideation rates decreased between 2021 and 2024 in states with similar screening programs, although disparities persist for female and LGBTQ+ students.

Capitol News Illinois notes that SB 1560 allows parents to opt their children out of school-based screenings. Public opinion is divided; supporters emphasize prevention benefits, while critics highlight privacy and consent issues. No statewide opt-out data have been released yet.

Ives is a West Point graduate and former Illinois state representative (2013–2019) who ran for governor in 2018 and Congress in 2020. She currently leads Breakthrough Ideas, a conservative policy group focused on taxpayer advocacy, as reported by Prairie State Wire.

Breakthrough Ideas is described on its official website as a conservative advocacy organization aiming to build grassroots support for free-market reforms, limited government, and taxpayer accountability in Illinois.