In recent weeks, questions related to access to health care in central Illinois have become loud and pronounced. News stories, legislative hearings, personal testimony and inaccurate information have all contributed to confusion and disagreement about the availability and quality of care in the region.

In recent weeks, questions related to access to health care in central Illinois have become loud and pronounced. News stories, legislative hearings, personal testimony and inaccurate information have all contributed to confusion and disagreement about the availability and quality of care in the region.

The Health DEPOTS program aims to create a safe space for individuals to take charge of their health through improved health literacy and advocacy.

The Health DEPOTS program aims to create a safe space for individuals to take charge of their health through improved health literacy and advocacy.

The Health DEPOTS program aims to create a safe space for individuals to take charge of their health through improved health literacy and advocacy.

Farming is a challenging and sometimes dangerous business. Weather, machinery, logistics and livestock can cause difficulties within a day’s work. Yet these can pale next to the concerns and stress that a farmer carries inside. Farmers are among the most likely to die by suicide, compared with other occupations, according to a 2022 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study also found that suicide rates overall had grown by 40% in less than two decades. A new support system is available to help the Illinois farming community. It’s as close as your phone. A helpline (1

Farming is a challenging and sometimes dangerous business. Weather, machinery, logistics and livestock can cause difficulties within a day’s work. Yet these can pale next to the concerns and stress that a farmer carries inside. Farmers are among the most likely to die by suicide, compared with other occupations, according to a 2022 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study also found that suicide rates overall had grown by 40% in less than two decades. A new support system is available to help the Illinois farming community. It’s as close as your phone. A helpline (1

Repeated exposure to loud noises can damage the structures inside your ears that help you hear. Over time, this damage can cause irreversible hearing loss, which can negatively impact your quality of life, your personal relationships, profession, ability to communicate with others, mental health and even personal safety. Recent research even suggests that hearing loss is associated with an increased risk of dementia and social isolation. As a farmer or agricultural worker, you probably already know how often you are exposed to hazardous noise levels during daily farm operations. Fortunately

Repeated exposure to loud noises can damage the structures inside your ears that help you hear. Over time, this damage can cause irreversible hearing loss, which can negatively impact your quality of life, your personal relationships, profession, ability to communicate with others, mental health and even personal safety. Recent research even suggests that hearing loss is associated with an increased risk of dementia and social isolation. As a farmer or agricultural worker, you probably already know how often you are exposed to hazardous noise levels during daily farm operations. Fortunately

SIU Medicine’s Chair of Psychiatry Kari Wolf, MD, issued the following statement in response to recent actions in state government and academia. At SIU Medicine, equity is a core value. That means that every day we strive to be a just, fair, unbiased and anti-racist organization that is focused on better health for all. As a specialty, psychiatry has a poor track-record of supporting the communities we serve and embracing equity. There are many historic instances of institutionalized racism and gender bias that have cast a shadow over our profession for generations. Unfortunately, patients and