Student mental health struggles intensify as high schools remain closed year into pandemic – Chicago Sun-Times*

“We’re seeing more kids who are feeling suicidal, more kids who are worried about the future,” said Dr. John Walkup, chair of the Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Lurie. “We’re seeing kids who have more eating problems. And we’re seeing kids who are coming to the emergency department who have more physical symptoms that probably have a psychiatric cause.” Outpatient visits for mental health services such as therapy have increased 15% since before the pandemic.