Illinois officials highlight mental health initiatives, including the Children's Behavioral Health Transformation Initiative and upcoming BEACON portal for public mental health services, during Mental Health Awareness Month.

Illinois debates a bill to move from punishing to treating drug use in pregnancy, facing opposition from a state’s attorney but finding support among healthcare groups advocating for compassionate approaches.

After COVID-19 and cancer damaged his lungs, University of Chicago police captain Arthur Gillespie received a landmark double lung transplant at Northwestern Medicine.

A former lawyer, Craig Pierce, and his wife were awarded $41 million in a medical malpractice lawsuit after he suffered a stroke due to healthcare providers' negligence in managing his anticoagulant.

The Illinois Department of Public Health launches a Lyme Disease Awareness campaign, urging residents to prevent tick bites and promptly remove ticks to reduce disease risk.

An 89-year-old woman is suing GSK and Boehringer Ingelheim, claiming Zantac caused her cancer. The companies deny the allegations, citing lack of scientific proof.

Illinois confirmed its first West Nile virus-infected bird for 2024 in Douglas County, prompting health officials to advise residents to start preventive measures against mosquito-borne diseases.

The IDOI launches a new mental health parity campaign in Illinois with the character Yarney teaching about insurance rights, backed by a history of enforcing parity laws and reinvesting fines into advocacy efforts.

Chicago implements a suicide prevention plan offering free QPR Gatekeeper training to recognize and aid those at risk, starting with high-risk areas and city workers.

Illinois health officials urge residents with private wells to regularly test and maintain water quality to prevent contamination, emphasizing the importance of annual inspections.

Illinois ramps up measures against H5N1 in cattle without confirmed cases, ensures safe milk consumption through pasteurization, and stresses the importance of surveillance to protect its dairy industry.

Illinois lawmakers have advanced bills to expand mental health care access, including improving insurance coverage and benefits for behavioral health services and first responders. These legislative efforts aim to address long-standing service gaps.

The FDA has mandated Abbott to recall its heart pump devices due to 273 injuries and 14 deaths, emphasizing the severe health risks posed by these devices' potential to accumulate biological material and obstruct blood flow.