Many are asking when this pandemic will really end, when we'll get back to normal, and what would “normal” even look like in a post-pandemic world. No one has answers to those questions, and for many, that uncertainty can take a toll on our mental health, which has already taken hits from the onset of the pandemic. The 21st was joined by a psychiatric professor to talk about ways the pandemic has been affecting our mental health and what we can do about it. 

It’s mid-November, but winter is already here: complete with snow and below freezing temperatures. If you’re someone who feels down this time of year, we’ll provide some tips on dealing with seasonal affective disorder. Plus, Illinois has gotten better at providing more money to school districts that need it the most. But there are still huge gaps that have to do with how our district borders are drawn. And, rural Illinoisans often have to travel farther to get their food. We’ll talk with folks from around the state who are trying to bring more fresh and local food options into their communities.

In rural areas, access to mental health services can be limited, sometimes even more so for teens and children. And the need for these services is growing, so one Midwestern school is using technology to help bridge this gap.

Rural America has high rates of chronic disease – the more remote a community, the more heart disease, cancer and diabetes. And there are side effects many people don’t think about: depression, anxiety, even suicide.

On the 21st: The state of LGBTQ rights in Illinois with Lambda Legal; Mothers who experience depression during pregnancy; Starting a second year without a state budget, the #ILBudgetNow situation