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TW: Suicide
The number of Black people in Cook County who’ve died by suicide this year is now at 83, according county medical examiner data. That’s just one shy of the total for 2017, the current decade-high at 84.
We still have almost two months left in the year. THREAD 1/12
The number of Black people in Cook County who’ve died by suicide this year is now at 83, according county medical examiner data. That’s just one shy of the total for 2017, the current decade-high at 84.
We still have almost two months left in the year. THREAD 1/12
But first, if you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, is a free, 24/7, confidential service that provides support and connections to resources for those in distress. Call 1 (800) 273-8255 or text 1 (800) 273-8255.
Black suicides this year have increased even as suicide deaths among other racial/ethnic groups didn’t. (Although data on Latino residents is likely an undercount.) When it comes to age groups, there’s a huge increase in suicides among elders aged 70+.
But suicide deaths only tell part of the picture. From a new health report: Black Chicagoans also have higher rates of ED visits due to suicide attempts. Sadly, this map looks like so many other maps we’ve seen when it comes to health inequities in our city.
When we first reported on this in July, we also found clusters of suicides happening on the South and West Sides. One of the deaths was Malik Webber, a 21yo from North Lawndale. His death was 1 of 7 suicides that happened within a two-mile radius. https://thetr.ac/SVtnn
Following our reporting in July, both Chicago and Cook County officials pledged to create suicide prevention plans. As of today, no updates to share on that front, but it’s my understanding that they’re both still in the works. https://thetr.ac/rwAFG
Since the start of COVID, suicidologists and mental health professionals have worried about how the stress, anxiety and isolation might affect the public’s mental health. We likely won’t have the full picture of what’s caused this increase in Chicago/Cook County for years.
In the meantime, I’ll continue reporting on this issue & am continuously shocked by this trend. I'd like to speak with Chicagoans currently trying to access mental health resources. Your voice matters. You can message me on Twitter, or email me at [email protected]
Before I go, I’d like to highlight some great work other Chicago reporters have done on this issue recently. Starting w/ @byalisonbowen's recent feature from @chicagotribune on rising mental health concerns: https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-covid-suicide-rates-chicago-black-1028-20201029-hriiij3tjbfcfmy7ti6z3jpza4-htmlstory.html
And @Pascal_Sabino from @BlockClub_CHI on what the city’s up to funding-wise: https://blockclubchicago.org/2020/10/12/8-million-city-plan-expands-access-to-mental-health-care-in-west-side-neighborhoods/
Lastly, if you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please know there are resources available. One of them is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a free, 24/7, confidential service. Call 1 (800) 273-8255 or text 1 (800) 273-8255. https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
If you’ve arrived unexpectedly at the tail end of this thread and want to know more, don’t worry! You can always scroll up and start from the beginning. In the meantime, here’s my latest from @teamtrace: https://thetr.ac/mPd3b
