Findings

Findings. The General Assembly finds that: (1) In 1955, Illinois had more than 30,000 adult State-operated inpatient mental health beds. (2) In 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois had fewer than 1,200 adult State-operated inpatient mental health beds. (3) Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are now only approximately 1,100 State-operated inpatient mental health beds. (4) More than 500,000 people in Illinois have serious mental health conditions. (5) While most people with even the most serious mental health conditions can be successfully treated in the community or in private hospitals, many will need inpatient care from a State-operated inpatient mental health facility. (6) Given the small number of remaining beds in State-operated inpatient mental health facilities, it is vital that adults who need a hospital-level of care are able to obtain services in such facilities. (7) Due to the lack of available inpatient mental health beds: (A) Many people in need of inpatient psychiatric care wait for days or weeks in emergency departments or non-psychiatric units of general hospitals where it is difficult to provide them with safe and effective mental health treatment. (B) Persons found unfit to stand trial or not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to the custody of the Department of Human Services often wait for weeks or months in county jails where it is difficult to provide them with safe and effective mental health treatment. (C) Adults with a continuing need for mental health services are discharged into the community before their mental health condition makes such a discharge safe and appropriate or before arrangements have been made for needed long-term community mental health services. (D) Adults who need inpatient care are often denied access to such care. (Source: P.A. 102-913, eff. 5-27-22.)