An Illinois lifeline program for suicidal kids has become a bridge to nowhere for many – WBEZ (Chicago)

In Illinois, the number of children who arrived in hospital emergency departments with suicidal thoughts climbed nearly 60% over a nearly six-year period ending in 2021. But the state-run Screening, Assessment and Support Services program is riddled with holes. It’s buckling under the weight of a youth mental health crisis, grappling with staff shortages and greater need. One example: the state couldn’t provide screening outcome data for about 40% of the cases that required the 90-minute response over five years.