SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (KWQC) – Illinois democrats want several changes to mental healthcare in the state.
A new bill would pay off student loans for those who want to enter the mental health profession and choose to practice in Illinois.
Bill sponsors said more than three-quarters of workers in the field were white as of 2023. They hope this inspires more people of color to enter the profession to give better care to match people’s backgrounds.
“When you want your mental health professional to help you, you have to be able to connect with that person,” State Sen. Javier Cervantes (D-Chicago) said. “And it’s sometimes difficult when you can’t speak the same language, or you don’t have the same experiences you had culturally or growing up, so that connection is vital in order to have a mental health professional to assist you.”
State Sen. Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island) is also a sponsor on the bill.
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