Illinois is now the first state to plan universal mental health screenings for elementary, middle and high school students.

Why it matters: Anxiety, behavior disorders and depression are the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in children, according to the CDC, and female and LGBTQ+ high school students struggle with mental health, violence and substance use more than their peers, the agency reported last year.

Driving the news: Beginning in January, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) will work with public school districts to develop and administer annual mental health screenings, much like vision and hearing tests, for students in grades 3-12.