Illinois students and advocates are asking lawmakers to fully fund campus mental health care. In April 2025, Young Invincibles and NAMI Chicago joined students and state legislators to call for $23.5 million in funding for the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act (MHEACA) in fiscal year 2026.
The law passed in 2019, but it has never been fully funded. MHEACA asks public colleges to train staff, screen students for mental health needs, and offer treatment and peer support. Illinois has funded part of the law so far, with $9 million in FY24 and $13 million in FY25. Advocates say students still need more support to get the care they need.