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New Suburban Cook County Suicide Report Shows Growing Disparities by Race and Ethnicity.
Important message to public: This season, prioritize your community’s mental health. 988 is available 24/7 to provide free, confidential crisis support and connection to mental health resources in Cook County and across Illinois.
BRIDGEVIEW, IL – Cook County Department of Public Health today released its latest report, Suburban Cook County Suicide Report, highlighting local trends, disparities, resources and steps to support prevention and healing.
Overall, suburban Cook County suicide rates are lower when compared to state and national averages. In 2023, the suicide rates were: 9 per 100,000 in suburban Cook County, 13 per 100,000 in Illinois, and 14 per 100,000 nationally. The number of suicides in suburban Cook County has not changed significantly over the past five years. There were 267 suicide deaths in 2023 and 254 suicide deaths in 2018.
Notable increase in suicide among Black and Hispanic residents:
Overall, white residents have the highest suicide death rate; 12.3 deaths per 100,000 residents. However, there was a notable increase in suicide rates among Black and Hispanic residents. Black residents experienced 18 deaths in 2018 compared to 41 in 2023; and the rate of deaths by suicide more than doubled, from 4.5 per 100,000 in 2018 to 10.7 per 100,000 in 2023. Hispanic residents experienced 23 deaths in 2018 and 39 in 2023; and death rates nearly doubled, from 4.0 per 100,000 in 2018 to 7.0 per 100,000 in 2023.
“Every life lost to suicide is one too many and greatly affects the people who knew them,” said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. “These numbers represent more than data. They reflect the deep emotional toll suicide takes on families, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and communities. That’s why it’s so important to raise awareness around this issue and to continue to support those who are impacted.”
“This report underscores the urgent need to address suicide as a public health crisis, especially among youth and communities of color,” said Dr. Erik Mikaitis, CEO, Cook County Health. “The important findings and recommendations from CCDPH will inform our work to expand access to behavioral health care, confront stigma, and build a stronger safety net of support.”
Attempted suicide among high school students:
Black high school students in suburban Cook County attempted suicide at three times the rate of their peers, and female teens were nearly three times as likely to visit the emergency department for suicide as their male peers. The data reflects persistent health inequities.
“Suicide is clearly a mental health and public health issue. This report shows us it is also an equity issue,” said Dr. Kiran Joshi, chief operating officer of Cook County Department of Public Health. “We must confront the root causes that increase suicide risk, while also ensuring that every resident has access to the support and care they need.”
Suicide risk increases when people face ongoing challenges such as trauma, poverty, housing instability, discrimination, substance use, and barriers to mental health care. These challenges are often rooted in broader systemic forces, which shape who is the most vulnerable and how communities experience mental health risk and access to quality, culturally responsive care.
By combining data, context, and recommendations, this report aims to inform a more coordinated and effective response to suicide in suburban Cook County. It highlights the state of suicide in suburban Cook County, examining both recent and historical data. It also explores how suicide trends vary across age groups, gender identities, and race/ethnicities, and shares recommendations for action.
The full report is available on the CCDPH website.
Key Findings from the Report:
- Rising youth suicide attempts: In 2022, 14.6% of high school students in suburban Cook County reported seriously considering suicide. Seven out of every 100 reported attempting suicide, with Black students attempting suicide at three times the rate of their peers.
- Teens ages 10–19 had the highest rates of emergency department visits for suicide attempts. Female teens were nearly three times as likely to visit the emergency department for suicide as their male peers.
- Racial and ethnic disparities: While white residents continue to have the highest suicide rates overall, rates among Black and Hispanic residents have been steadily increasing since 2020.
- Suicide rates for African Americans more than doubled in five years, from 4.5 per 100,000 residents in 2018 to 10.7 per 100,000 residents in 2023.
- For Hispanic residents, suicide rates almost doubled in five years, from 4.0 per 100,000 residents in 2018 to 7.0 per 100,000 residents in 2023.
- In 2022, Black high school students reported attempting suicide at three times the rate of white high school students.
- Impact of social stressors: Students who felt hopeless were 32% more likely to consider suicide, while those who felt threatened at school were 14% more likely to attempt suicide.
Recommendations:
CCDPH recommends a set of strategies that contribute to suicide prevention. While local and state partners have invested in these strategies, additional investments and coordination across programs will ensure equitable access and reduce deaths from suicide.
- Policy and access to care: Support advocacy to reduce access to lethal means. Firearm-related injuries are the leading cause of death for kids since 2020, with rates increasing 106 percent since 2013.
- Improving insurance coverage for mental health conditions.
- Create protective environments: Support efforts to create healthy organizational policies and implement restorative practices in schools and other settings.
- Coping and Problem Solving: Support emotional management and relationship building skills through social and emotional learning programs, which CCDPH provides funding for through its Building Healthier Communities grant program.
- Culturally Responsive Support for Youth: Ensure youth receive support in culturally responsive ways. CCDPH will host focus groups with diverse groups of youth to better understand how and when they would like to receive mental health support, and to identify innovative approaches, such as peer support.
Data Sources:
- One of CCDPH’s major data collection efforts to understand youth comes from the Suburban Cook County Youth Risk Behavior Survey (SCC-YRBS), conducted in 2010, 2020, 2022, and 2024. The department plans to collect data in two-year intervals to monitor emerging trends and the changing landscape of our communities. Data from the SCC YRBS aims to help describe the extent to which youth are engaging in risky behaviors in the 125 suburban municipalities that comprise CCDPH’s jurisdiction.
- Data from adults was collected from a variety of sources, including the Cook County Health Survey, as well as death certificate, inpatient, and outpatient records from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Resources for Immediate Help:
- 9-8-8 Helpline
If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 9-8-8 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- NAMI Chicago Helpline
NAMI Helpline is a free and confidential resource that provides a listening ear, guidance and connection to the right mental health and social service resources, over the phone.
Call: 833-NAMI-CHI (626-4244).
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 AM – 8 PM, Saturday and Sunday 9 AM – 5PM
- Suburban Cook County Resources
Cook County Department of Public Health has listed some easily accessible local and national mental health resources. Many of the resources are free, accept walk-ins, or provide support via the phone or chat. Learn more: Mental Health and Substance Use – Cook County Department of Public Health.
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Cook County Department of Public Health, an affiliate of Cook County Health, is a nationally accredited, state-certified local health department that enforces health regulations, monitors and responds to public health threats and promotes better health in suburban Cook County.