IL HB2960

Requires Illinois school districts offering health education courses in middle school or high school to include mandatory instruction on mental health

Mandates teaching signs and symptoms of mental health conditions including depression, suicidal thoughts, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, anxiety, and PTSD, appropriate to student age and developmental level

Requires instruction on how to access school mental health resources (counselors, psychologists, social workers) and community services, as well as evidence-based practices for managing mental health challenges

Instruction must cover mental wellness protective factors, stigma reduction, the connection between mental health and academic success, and the prevalence of mental health challenges across all demographic groups

Protects student privacy by prohibiting schools from requiring students to disclose their own confidential health or mental health information during instruction