Chicago Department of Public Health Weekly Media Brief, 12/24/2025

CDPH wishes you a safe and healthy holiday season! As we move into the new year, we are excited to share more of Chicago's public health milestones from 2025:

Expanded Mental Health Resources

Being in crisis (or supporting someone who is) can feel overwhelming, but knowing what to say, what to do, and where to turn can make all the difference.

• Since 2020, Chicagoans have experienced expanded access to mental health care services through CDPH's Mental Health Equity Initiative (MHEI). More than 154,000 Chicagoans have received care through this initiative; 29% of those served were youth, and 86% identified as people of color. As of 2025, 37 partner organizations serve as part of the MHEI network.
• In 2025, 500 residents across 37 community areas received QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide-prevention training. These free trainings equip Chicagoans with the skills to identify warning signs, start conversations, and connect someone to care.
• Participants learned to navigate Chicago's crisis-response system, which includes a network of seven city-run Mental Health Centers, walk-in community triage centers, hotlines and chats, mobile crisis teams, and other support options.

If you or someone you know needs support, help is available. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers free, confidential assistance by call, text, or chat. For immediate safety concerns, 911 remains the best option.

Protecting Chicago from Illnesses

CDPH monitors health threats across Chicago so you and your family can stay protected before outbreaks spread. In the past year, CDPH…

These behind-the-scenes efforts help hospitals and communities better prepare for potential surges in illnesses, avoid mosquito-borne diseases and stay healthier all year.

Better Overdose and Violence Prevention

This summer, CDPH saw real results from coordinated public health efforts that brought lifesaving resources directly to Chicago neighborhoods. These successes are a result of collaboration between government, advocates, and neighborhoods toward a common goal: Keeping Chicagoans safe. They also are an important step toward decreasing our city's life expectancy gap.

• CDPH and other partners worked across 27 neighborhoods to share data, host education events, and deliver harm reduction tools and violence interruption support.
• Outreach workers provided bystander training and distributed 10,480 naloxone kits and 2,920 gun locks.
• Between May and August 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, opioid-related emergencies fell 13% and shootings dropped 36%.

CDPH Observes Christmas and New Year's Day

As the year comes to a close, we at CDPH want to wish everyone in Chicago and elsewhere a happy holiday season, however you choose to celebrate. CDPH clinics and offices will be closed for business on Christmas (12/25) and New Year's Day (1/1/26). Stay warm and celebrate the season safely!

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