Mental illness is a disease that knows no boundaries: It affects people of all incomes, races and ages.

Monday, WBEZ kicked off a series documenting the lives of mentally ill children—and their families—in Illinois. To begin the series, Eight Forty-Eight heard from a collection of the voices and stories that will be featured in the series, Out of the Shadows.

One warning: some listeners may find this content disturbing.

Out of the Shadows will explore the fractures in mental health care for children in Illinois and illuminate how it affects our youth.

Join the conversation: Ask experts about mental illness in our live chat.