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From staff report
The Illinois Senate has passed a bill proposed by Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart that would eliminate co-pays for first responders seeking mental health treatment.
“We ask first responders to constantly expose themselves to traumatic and dangerous situations to protect us,” Dart said. “This bill is a solid step toward helping them. It will remove the economic barrier between them and the tools they need to manage the burdens that society places on them.”
Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart
Dart said the need for mental health care for first responders is critical. Due to exposure to violent and traumatic events, first responders are at increased risk of developing mental health conditions such as PTSD, depression, and substance use disorders. The Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology reports that the suicide rate among police officers is 69% higher than the general population, and a Harvard University study shows that first responders are at increased risk of developing PTSD.
A study by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that 30% of first responders develop a behavioral health condition and 75% of police officers experience a traumatic event.
The bill, sponsored by Democratic state Sen. Michael Hastings, would help first responders, including police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical service personnel, pay for costs associated with mental health counseling, including insurance deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. This guarantees that the requirements will be waived.
Financial burdens are often a burden for individuals seeking mental health care, Dart said. The average price for psychotherapy is he up to $ 200 per session, and the insurance company can pass on his 40% of the total amount to the insured. In a survey conducted by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, 42% of respondents cited cost as a major barrier to receiving mental health services.
“Our first responders have endured many hardships, and one hardship they should not face is barriers to mental health treatment,” Hastings said. “This is landmark legislation that will not only impact first responders, but also set an example for the rest of the country on how to support them.”
Supporters of this bill include NAMI Chicago, National Association of Social Workers Illinois Chapter, Illinois Mental Health America, Illinois Psychiatric Association, Illinois Police Chiefs Association, Illinois Firefighters Federation, Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, and Police Benevolent and Protective Association. included. , Illinois Sheriffs Association and AFSCME Council 31, among others.
The bill now moves to the state House, where it will be sponsored by state Rep. Angie Guerrero-Cuellar (D-22).n.d.), the wife of a police officer. Dart urged lawmakers to quickly approve the bill and send it to Gov. J.B. Pritzker for signing.
“Every day, emergency workers answer our calls for help when the worst events in our lives occur: a car accident, a violent attack, a health crisis, or the death of a loved one. And this bill threatens not only their well-being, but the health and safety of all of our communities,” Dart said. “I encourage the Illinois House of Representatives to pass this common-sense bill to ensure the health of those who keep us safe.”
