School counseling services may include, but are not limited to: (52) participating, in addition to other topics at in-service training programs, in training to identify the warning signs of mental illness and suicidal behavior in adolescents and teenagers and learning appropriate intervention and referral techniques.

(a) To conduct in-service training programs for teachers. (b) In addition to other topics at in-service training programs, at least once every 2 years, licensed school personnel and administrators who work with pupils in kindergarten through grade 12 shall be trained to identify the warning signs of mental illness and suicidal behavior in youth and shall be taught appropriate intervention and referral techniques. A school district may utilize the Illinois Mental Health First Aid training program, established under the Illinois Mental Health First Aid Training Act [405 ILCS 105/1 et seq.]and administered by certified instructors trained by a national association recognized as an authority in behavioral health, to provide the training and meet the requirements under this subsection. If licensed school personnel or an administrator obtains mental health first aid training outside of an in-service training program, he or she may present a certificate of successful completion of the training to the school district to satisfy the requirements of this subsection. (c) School guidance counselors, nurses, teachers and other school personnel who work with pupils may be trained to have a basic knowledge of matters relating to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), including the nature of the disease, its causes and effects, the means of detecting it and preventing its transmission, and the availability of appropriate sources of counseling and referral, and any other information that may be appropriate considering the age and grade level of such pupils. The School Board shall supervise such training. The State Board of Education and the Department of Public Health shall jointly develop Standard for such training.

(a) In this Section: “Psychostimulant medication” means medication that produces increased levels of mental and physical energy and alertness and an elevated mood by stimulating the central nervous system. “Psychotropic medication” means psychotropic medication as defined in Section 1-121.1 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code [405 ILCS 5/1-121.1]. (b) The board must adopt and implement a policy that prohibits any disciplinary action that is based totally or in part on the refusal of a student’s parent or guardian to administer or consent to the administration of psychotropic or psychostimulant medication to the student. * The policy must require that, at least once every 2 years, the in-service training of certified school personnel and administrators include training on current best practices regarding the identification and treatment of attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the application of non-aversive behavioral interventions in the school environment, and the use of psychotropic or psychostimulant medication for school-age children. (c) This Section does not prohibit school medical staff, an individualized educational program team, or a professional worker (as defined in Section 14-1.10 of this Code) [105 ILCS 5/14-1.10] from recommending that a student be evaluated by an appropriate medical practitioner or prohibit school personnel from consulting with the practitioner with the consent of the student’s parents or guardian.

At least once every 2 years, licensed school personnel and administrators who work with pupils in kindergarten through grade 12 shall be trained to identify the warning signs of mental illness and suicidal behavior in youth and shall be taught various intervention techniques. The school district may utilize the Illinois Mental Health First Aid training program, established under the Illinois Mental Health First Aid Training Act [405 ILCS 105/1 et seq.] and administered by certified instructors trained by a national association recognized as an authority in behavioral health, to provide the training and meet the requirements under this Section. If licensed school personnel or an administrator obtains mental health first aid training outside of an in-service training program, he or she may present a certificate of successful completion of the training to the school district to satisfy the requirements of this Section. The training shall be provided within the framework of existing in-service training programs offered by the Board or as part of the professional development activities required under Section 21-14 of this Code [105 ILCS 5/21-14].

Site addresses mental illness in-service training requirements.