Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services announced that the State of Illinois will join the Governor’s Challenge to a Multistate initiative called “Prevent Suicide”, a national effort that champions mental health support and preventative services for Veterans. The state is dedicating $2 million to the initiative and is working with the Mental Health Services Administration and the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs. 

In 2019, suicide was the 12th leading cause of death among Illinois residents of all ages, but 3rd leading cause of death among those aged 1-24. Governor JB Pritzker says Veterans deserve more.  Illinois joins 26 other states who are part of the effort. The State of Illinois continues to prioritize mental health and continuing its efforts to implement best practices using public health research and data. 

For more information please visit the Illinois Department of Human Services website or their Facebook page. IDHS Secretary Grace Hou says “There is a tremendous opportunity to aggressively prevent suicide and save lives.”