Illinois Severe Mental Illness Resources & Helpful Info

The term severe mental illness (SMI) includes schizophrenia spectrum disorders, severe bipolar disorder, and major depression with psychotic features. These disorders put an individual at high risk for criminalization and preventable tragedies such as victimization and suicide. Every state has different laws and policies around accessing treatment for SMI and some states have more resources and treatment options than others. Here you will find state-specific resources for navigating the SMI treatment system, an evaluation of local laws, as well as state SMI data and research.

State of Illinois next to Treatment Advocacy Center text, symbolizing local severe mental illness data, laws, and resources

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How many people in Illinois have SMI?

339528

individuals with severe mental illness.

140857

individuals with SMI who receive treatment in a given year.

3.42 %

of the adult population is estimated living with a SMI in the United States.

State psychiatric hospital beds in Illinois

2023 total beds: 1,359
  • Civil beds: 407
  • Forensic beds: 952
2023 beds per 100,000 people: 10.8

Click here for more information about state psychiatric hospital beds in Illinois.

A minimum of 50 beds per 100,000 people is considered necessary to provide minimally adequate treatment for individuals with severe mental illness. Illinois fails to meet this minimum standard.

For Additional Information

Data is a powerful tool to advocate for change. Curious about a specific data point in your state? Reach out to us at ORPA@treatmentadvocacycenter.org

Fast Facts on SMI in Illinois

Deinstitutionalization, outdated treatment laws, discriminatory Medicaid funding practices, and the prolonged failure by states to fund their mental health systems drive those in need of care into the criminal justice and corrections systems.

Prevalence of SMI in jails and prisons
19%
Estimated number of inmates with SMI in 2021
8,955
State psychiatric inpatient beds 2023
1,359
Likelihood of incarceration versus hospitalization
7 to 1

2021 Illinois State Mental Health Agency's expenditures

Every state receives block grant funding from the federal government to provide mental health services to their community. Below is some information about how these dollars are spent and compares to other state spending.

SMHA expenditures
$589,948,153
Percentage of expenditures for state hospitals
40%
Expenditures per person served by the public mental health system
$20,809
Percentage of SMHA expenditures of total state budget
0.5%

Illinois Treatment Laws

405 ILL. COMP. STAT. 5/3-600. A person 18 years of age or older who is subject to involuntary admission on an inpatient basis and in need of immediate hospitalization may be admitted to a mental health facility pursuant to this Article. 405 ILL. COMP. STAT. 5/3-603(a). (a) If no physician, qualified examiner, psychiatrist, advanced practice psychiatric nurse, or clinical psychologist is immediately available or it is not possible after a diligent effort to obtain the certificate provided for in Section 3-602 [405 ILCS 5/3-602], the respondent may be detained for examination in a mental health facility upon presentation of the petition alone pending the obtaining of such a certificate. 405 ILL. COMP. STAT. 5/3-604. No person detained for examination under this Article on the basis of a petition alone may be held for more than 24 hours unless within that period a certificate is furnished to or by the mental health facility. If no certificate is furnished, the respondent shall be released forthwith.

405 ILL. COMP. STAT. 5/3-701(a). Any person 18 years of age or older may execute a petition asserting that another person is subject to involuntary admission on an inpatient basis. The petition shall be prepared pursuant to paragraph (b) of Section 3-601 [405 ILCS 5/3-601] and shall be filed with the court in the county where the respondent resides or is present. 405 ILL. COMP. STAT. 5/1-119. "Person subject to involuntary admission on an inpatient basis" means: (1) A person with mental illness who because of his or her illness is reasonably expected, unless treated on an inpatient basis, to engage in conduct placing such person or another in physical harm or in reasonable expectation of being physically harmed; (2) A person with mental illness who because of his or her illness is unable to provide for his or her basic physical needs so as to guard himself or herself from serious harm without the assistance of family or others, unless treated on an inpatient basis; or (3) A person with mental illness who (i) refuses treatment or is not adhering adequately to prescribed treatment; (ii) because of the nature of his or her illness, is unable to understand his or her need for treatment; and (iii) if not treated on an inpatient basis, is reasonably expected, based on his or her behavioral history, to suffer mental or emotional deterioration and is reasonably expected, after such deterioration, to meet the criteria of either paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of this Section. In determining whether a person meets the criteria specified in paragraph (1) or (2), or (3), the court may consider evidence of the person's repeated past pattern of specific behavior and actions related to the person's illness.

405 ILL. COMP. STAT. 5/3-751(a). Any person 18 years of age or older may execute a petition asserting that another person is subject to involuntary admission on an outpatient basis. The petition shall be prepared pursuant to paragraph (b) of Section 3-601 [405 ILCS 5/3-601] and shall be filed with the court in the county where the respondent resides or is present. 405 ILL. COMP. STAT. 5/1-119.1. "Person subject to involuntary admission on an outpatient basis" means: (1) A person who would meet the criteria for admission on an inpatient basis as specified in Section 1119 in the absence of treatment on an outpatient basis and for whom treatment on an outpatient basis can only be reasonably ensured by a court order mandating such treatment; or (2) A person with a mental illness which, if left untreated, is reasonably expected to result in an increase in the symptoms caused by the illness to the point that the person would meet the criteria for commitment under Section 1119, and whose mental illness has, on more than one occasion in the past, caused that person to refuse needed and appropriate mental health services in the community.

Recommended updates to treatment laws

  1. 1

    Amend 405 ILCS 5/3-601 to authorize citizen right of petition for at least enumerated citizens, preferably any responsible adult, for emergency evaluation

  2. 2

    Amend 405 ILCS 5/3-604 to extend duration of emergency hold to 72 hours or more

  3. 3

    Amend 405 ILCS 5/3-813(a) to extend duration of all continued orders beyond 180 days