Register: 2026 Suicide Awareness Conference in September
As communities across the country, including in Illinois, navigate increasingly complex mental health and suicide prevention challenges, effective crisis response has never been more important. That’s why several organizations have joined forces to bring together diverse voices in a shared space of learning, healing, and action to advance suicide prevention through education, connection, and empowerment. The “Healing Together: 2026 Suicide Awareness Summit” will be held on Friday, Sept. 25 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. CT at the Hyatt Lodge Conference Center in Oak Brook.
IHA is a sponsor of the one-day conference designed for providers and professionals in the mental health field, clinicians, teachers and educators, members of police and fire departments, and individuals with lived experience. The event aims to build cross-sector collaboration, center diverse voices and lived experience, promote evidence-based practices and innovation, foster community resilience and connection, and encourage action and accountability.
Keynote speakers include:
- Tom Nutter, MD, Chief Behavioral Health Officer, Cook County Health
- Frankie Shipman-Amuwo, DrPH, Senior Director of Community Health, Cook County Dept. of Public Health
For a full list of event speakers and sessions, click here. To register, click here. For more information, click here. Five CEUs/CPDUs are available for social workers, counselors and educators.
Register: Firearm Safe Storage Strategies Webinar Series
The Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) is hosting a September webinar series to highlight the work undertaken through the Firearm Safe Storage Strategies (FSSS) Grant project, and provide an overview of strategies implement by FSSS grant recipients.
The webinar series will:
- Increase awareness of firearm safety-related approaches in different settings and reaching different populations.
- Build connections between communities and organizations interested in addressing firearm safety.
- Share firearm safety-related resources.
FSSS was funded with general revenue funds and funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Comprehensive Suicide Prevention grant.
For a full list of webinar topics and presenters, click here. To register, click here. For questions related to the webinar series, contact DPH.Safety@illinois.gov or Jennifer.L.Martin@illinois.gov.
Cyber Alert: Chaos Ransomware Actors Posing as IT Support Workers
The FBI this week issued an alert warning that Chaos ransomware actors are impersonating IT support personnel and using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help steal data. Chaos, a ransomware variant that followed the Royal/Blacksuit variants, has been linked to attacks on healthcare and other organizations. According to the FBI, these actors have used AI to create voice clones, launch email bombing campaigns and develop scripted messages to make ransom negotiations more efficient. They also have used Microsoft Teams calls to pose as internal IT support staff and persuade employees to run remote support software, giving the threat actor access to the employee’s device. Once inside, the actor can use open-source tools or other remote activity to encrypt and steal data, then threaten to publish it on a Chaos data leak site if a ransom is not paid by a set deadline.
Illinois Respiratory Disease Surveillance Data
The Infectious Respiratory Disease Surveillance Dashboard from the Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) provides the latest data on hospital visits, seasonal trends, lab test positivity and demographic data. IDPH also tracks COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus information through the Illinois Wastewater Surveillance System dashboard.
Briefly Noted
Abiomed has issued a letter to affected customers recommending all Automated Impella Controllers be removed from where they are used or sold due to a component failure that may delay procedures, potentially resulting in a prolonged period without mechanical circulatory support. As of Aug. 17, Abiomed has reported 37 serious injuries and three deaths associated with this issue.
Additionally, Vitruvias Therapeutics Inc. is voluntarily recalling one lot (Lot. No. 504950) of Thyroid Tablets, USP 30 mg to the consumer level. The product is being recalled because testing confirmed the potential for the product to be superpotent, potentially leading to hyperthyroidism.
Leading the News
Putting on the brakes: New Illinois law establishes rules for e-bikes, scooters
Capitol News Illinois
New rules governing who can use electronic bikes and scooters, including where and how fast they go, will go into effect next year following Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature on Wednesday. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 3484 which establishes regulations on “micromobility” transportation that include age requirements, speed limits and rules on where they can be operated. The bill takes effect Jan. 1.
Illinois is getting a piece of Meta’s proposed $17B settlement. Where's the money going?
NBC 5
Meta has agreed to one of the largest court settlements in American history at $17 billion dollars, stemming from a lawsuit brought on by 29 states. The lawsuit alleged the parent company of Facebook and Instagram designed its platforms to exploit young users. If the settlement agreement is approved by the court, Meta would pay more than $17 billion to the states named in the lawsuit, including Illinois and Indiana.
756 hospitals patients would highly recommend
Becker’s Hospital Review
Nine fewer hospitals have a five-star recommendation from patients compared to May, according to CMS data.
Travel nurse demand, by state
Becker’s Hospital Review
Travel nursing demand rose in most states since the end of the second quarter of 2026, according to Aya Healthcare data shared with Becker’s.
