DeGeorge for State Representative

My name is T. Aaron DeGeorge and I'm running for state representative of Illinois' 53rd District. I am running because our mental health industry is severely failing our mentally ill. I've seen in it firsthand, unfortunately, on multiple occasions.

However, it is because of those tragic experiences that I decided I could no longer stand by as our system continues to fail the mentally ill.

The failure and closure of many of our mentally ill facilities has led to a large number of those people contributing to the mass incarceration that plagues our country.

Roughly 200,000 of those in jail or prison have a severe or "serious" mental illness, going untreated.
Another 755,000 on probation or parole, who, statistically speaking, will return to prison on multiple occasions throughout their lives.

Due to the lack of institutions and care, there are TEN TIMES as many people with severe mental illnesses in prison than are in hospitals or institutions.

"Seriously" mentally ill (those affected by schizophrenia, bi-polar disorders, manic depressives, etc.) effects roughly 5% of Americans. Those diagnosed, die twenty-five years younger than the average citizen.

If a person is eighteen years-old (or as young as twelve in Illinois, California and West Virginia!), they can refuse treatment altogether.

Rather than prevent violence towards themselves or others, the law requires it.

Change comes from us, the people, not politicians. For too long our district and our state has been stuck in the mediocrity of neutrality.

One American tradition that has held true throughout our history is the belief that We can do better. And we must, now more than ever.

Whether it's our mental health system, our criminal justice system, public schools, our environment, or whatever it may be: We. Can. Do. Better.

And let our generation take the baton from the previous generation and establish ourselves as the most revered and remembered generation in history, and make Illinois and America the envy of the world once again.

Let us fight together to #ReturnToProgress.