Mental health and substance use disorder are deeply connected, yet stigma and systemic barriers often prevent people from accessing the care they need. In this important episode of This Is Public Health, we're joined by Julia Strehlow, Senior Advisor to the Director at IDPH; Melissa Stalets, Deputy Director of the Office of Health Promotion at IDPH; and Dr. Nicole Gastala, Medical Director for Substance Use Prevention & Recovery (SUPR) at the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Together, they discuss the intersection of mental health and substance use, the importance of integrating services, and how Illinois is working to create more accessible, trauma-informed care. Learn how IDPH is addressing the challenges through the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) and other community initiatives. Tune in to hear how Illinois is transforming behavioral health care and making recovery possible for more people.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, YouTube, and your other favorite podcast platforms.