Rep. Sheri Jesiel (R-Winthrop Harbor) will serve on a volunteer-based advisory council looking to remove barriers to mental health care, according to a recent announcement.
Jesiel joins three other state legislators on the Advisory Council on Early Identification and Treatment of Mental Health Conditions. The council's goals include diagnosing mental illness sooner and providing broader access to treatment.
“It normally takes around 10 years to properly diagnose and treat a mental health condition, particularly in children and young adults,” Jesiel said in the press release. “When you factor in how substance abuse can exacerbate a mental health condition like depression, it makes it that much more pressing to improve our ability to more quickly identify when someone needs assistance and ensure they have access to effective treatment.”
Sheri Jesiel
The council will recommend action to the governor and the General Assembly after compiling a list of factors to help improve access and diagnosis.
Jesiel wants to see the state embrace legislation or other policies designed to directly address the problems, like it did by passing a law in 2015 that provides naloxone for heroin overdoses in emergency situations. Jesiel supported the bill.
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