What’s Behind The Spike In Suicide-Related ER Visits By Chicago’s Youth?

More and more kids are showing up in emergency rooms with suicidal thoughts and self-harm. According to the Centers for Disease Control, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for children and young adults in the U.S., with rates among Black youth rising faster than any other demographic. Yet only about 10% of Illinois hospitals have psychiatric beds for children and teens. On today’s In the Loop, how are communities and hospitals dealing with the rise in suicidal behaviors among kids? GUESTS: Dr. Audrey G. Brewer, pediatrician and a researcher in the Department of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of MedicineRafiah Maxie-Cole, a licensed social worker and founder of Soul Survivors of ChicagoFor a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.