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"Not every incident needs someone arrested, and not every incident needs somebody ticketed; but somehow, someway, the police were called. So we're here to help," Sgt. Jim Yanecek said.
Only on 2: there's been a push across the country to rethink policing when it comes to mental health crises, and the Lake County Sheriff's Department was one of the first in the Chicago area to put together a specialized team. Five years later, the Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COAST) has more than doubled the number of calls they respond to. CBS 2 Investigator Megan Hickey is digging into the numbers and what they mean.
The group met early Friday morning and got in some warmups before heading out for an eight-mile run around Garfield Park.
In 2019 the department only had 13 mental health service locations. This year, there are more than 170 centers, including mobile, home and community based services.
The city started a new program to reduce the stigma associated with therapy. CBS 2's Shardaa Gray spent the day at the Beverly branch library learning about the new service.
According to the CDC, about 44% of teens say they have extreme feelings of fear and hopelessness.
Mental health is a crucial part of our wellness, but it's not always easy to talk about or navigate. One local high school is spending a week with its students to have the difficult conversations, and give them the tools they need to thrive.
The senator said the federal funding will go toward trauma-informed care and additional mental health personnel in public schools through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act passed by Congress last year.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin will announce more than $14 million in federal funding for local schools.
The Brookfield facility will offer mental health assessments, classes, and programs like yoga and meditation to any 14- to 18-year-old who wants or needs them.
In the past year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that about 44 percent of teens they surveyed reported extreme feelings of fear and hopelessness. CBS 2 Political Investigator Dana Kozlov reports.
"Youth have been through so much trauma through the pandemic; whether it's from the school shutdown, and just the isolation, lack of academic stimulation for some, and the lack of social interactions."
A Colorado school district is prioritizing mental health by building a new facility that will double up as a school and a mental health day-treatment center.
A severe shortage of mental health treatment options means kids in crisis increasingly find themselves in emergency rooms for weeks or longer.
The organization BUILD Inc. is also set to open a brand new space in the Austin neighborhood to better serve residents.
In a time of crisis, admitting that you need help to manage your mental health is often the first step, but from there, without knowing where to go or who to contact, that is often where things stop. A community group in the Austin neighborhood is working to eliminate those hurdles of going out to find resources, by pulling right up to the people in need.
A California psychology professor has gained a million followers on TikTok by debunking "wellness" advice that could do more harm than good.
Children and teens across the U.S. increasingly face significant mental health challenges and a severe shortage of services to treat them. The result: kids everywhere are in crisis.
The goal is to help officers better understand mental illness. They'll also learn de-escalation tactics. The announcement coming one day after Aurora police shot a man. CBS 2's Andrew Ramos
As CBS 2's Andrew Ramos told us, Ricardo Camacho is trying to change that, one conversation at a time.
One of the biggest challenges when it comes to addressing mental health is breaking stigmas, and just talking about it. As CBS 2's Andrew Ramos told us, one Pilsen man is trying to change that, one conversation at a time.
When the Chicago Wolves host the Rockford Ice Hogs and Grand Rapids Griffins this weekend, they will look a little different, wearing exclusive gear with an important message.
A poll found nearly 40% of Americans said their mood declines in the winter and a quarter reported feeling depressed.
As the holiday season comes to an end, the dark and cold days of winter can take a toll on your emotional and mental health. Millions of Americans are suffering from seasonal affective disorder, a common depression that can be debilitating.
The centers will expand mental health services in the west and southwest suburbs.
A man and a woman were charged after authorities said they buried an infant child at a home in Wilmington, Illinois, last year.
Elgin police officers were told by the agent that the crash occurred while they were conducting an enforcement activity.
A 54-year-old man was found unresponsive with stab wounds to his chest on Saturday afternoon, according to CPD.
Both incidents happened about an hour apart on Nov. 22, the first just after 2:30 a.m. and the second shortly before 3:30 a.m.
Chicago police said that Jairo Munoz Ramirez, 38, was identified as one of the suspects in the July 2023 shooting of a 49-year-old man in Chicago Lawn.
Two people who survived an early September U.S. attack on an alleged drug boat were waving overhead before they were killed in a now-controversial second strike, according to two sources.
The Supreme Court said Friday it will decide the legality of President Trump's executive order that seeks to end birthright citizenship.
President Trump has led the charge to create more GOP-friendly congressional districts in the 2026 midterm elections.
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin is set to retire in 2026, but before he leaves Congress he is making one last attempt to pass the DREAM Act.
Former Chicago Tribune publisher and editor-in-chief R. Bruce Dold passed away this week.
A condo owner in Country Club Hills says he's forced to sell his home after his condo association failed to reimburse him for repairs to his leaking roof. Edward Hadnott's condo has sat empty since a major roof leak in 2022.
The U.S. stopped minting pennies this week, and some groups have issued a warning about the headaches that can create for some businesses and consumers.
Why is one school in the west Chicago suburb of Lisle paying a water bill three times higher than another? The answer has to do with a private utility company.
The Food and Drug Administration is warning about additional cookware brands that could be leaching lead into your food.
Walgreens said it will close its office space in Chicago's Old Post Office building.
The newest measles vaccination numbers released by Chicago Public Schools shows immunizations are finally moving in the right direction.
Two pregnant Black women recently faced alarming neglect at hospitals in Indiana and Texas, highlighting racial disparities in maternal care.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed a bill aimed at protecting vaccine access in Illinois.
Roseland Community Hospital on Monday celebrated the opening of a new sickle cell treatment clinic.
Consumers with the imported pans should throw them away due to the severe health risks posed by lead, the agency warns.
U.S. Steel says it'll resume making steel slabs at its Granite City Works plant in Illinois amid strengthening demand.
Traffic at O'Hare International Airport is growing faster than expected, and this has Chicago city leaders wanting to make big changes to future construction plans at the airport.
Small Business Saturday was disrupted by the winter storm for many business owners in Chicago, but in the Rogers Park neighborhood, a group of business owners came together to draw customers.
Three different times over the past year, popular and longstanding Chicago stage theater spaces have made headlines for their demise. But it's not all bad news by any stretch.
A federal judge has called out an immigration enforcement agent for using artificial intelligence to write the narrative of a use-of-force report as just a small part of a scathing opinion that rebutted federal officials' narratives about appropriate force used against protesters and others during an ongoing immigration crackdown in Chicago.
Frank Gehry was known for designing the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
Netflix on Friday said it will acquire Warner Bros., including its film and television studios, HBO Max and HBO.
Starting Wednesday, riders on the Chicago Transit Authority system will hear a recognizable Chicago voice during their commutes.
Three different times over the past year, popular and longstanding Chicago stage theater spaces have made headlines for their demise. But it's not all bad news by any stretch.
Joe Colborn, better known as Joe "JoBo" Bohannon on Chicago radio, died this week.
For 25 years, the moment has provided a true sense of the holiday tradition to families who struggle to make it happen.
Pooches and pet owners decked out in their holiday finest filled Rizzo's Bar and Inn on Saturday afternoon for photos with Santa and plenty of fun.
We will be waking up to snowfall on Sunday morning, which has prompted a winter weather advisory to go into effect Saturday night through Sunday morning.
Hegseth delivered the keynote address at the Reagan National Defense Forum on Saturday, pledging a commitment to bolster an "arsenal of freedom" and vowing to take on drug runners.
Chicago police said he was pronounced dead on the scene.
Elgin police officers were told by the agent that the crash occurred while they were conducting an enforcement activity.
A winter weather advisory will take effect overnight for the Chicago area and parts of Indiana. Here's what you can expect.
A man and a woman were charged after authorities said they buried an infant child at a home in Wilmington, Illinois, last year.
A 54-year-old man was found unresponsive with stab wounds to his chest on Saturday afternoon, according to CPD.
A U.S. Coast Guard ship carrying 1,200 Christmas trees from Michigan made its way Navy Pier.
A Chicago woman battling ALS said she's been struggling just to get a disabled parking space in front of her Bridgeport home.
Days after new Cook County Chief Judge Charles Beach ordered an urgent review of the county's electronic monitoring program, Sheriff Tom Dart said this crisis isn't new, and that he's been warning lawmakers of problems for years.
Charles Beach was sworn in on Monday as Cook County's first new chief judge in 24 years, and takes over amid a political firestorm over what appears to be systemic issues with how accused criminals are being monitored before trial.
Some Chicagoans found out the hard way on Monday that the overnight winter parking ban is in effect.
The electronic monitoring system in Cook County has come under increased scrutiny, after a woman was set on fire in a horrific arson attack on the Blue Line, with critics demanding answers as to why the suspect wasn't already behind bars.
Pascal Siakam scored a season-high 36 points, Bennedict Mathurin added 28 and the Indiana Pacers beat the struggling Chicago Bulls 120-105 on Friday night.
Sitting in 1st-place in the NFC standings isn't the only feel-good story for the Bears, as cornerback Nahshon Wright was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Month.
The Bulls dropped to 9-12 with their fifth loss in a row.
Braeden Bowman forced overtime for the Golden Knights when he put in his own rebound with 2:28 left in the third period.
Caleb Williams plans on picking up right where he left off the last time he faced the Packers.
The special edition locket was inspired by the James Bond film "Octopussy," which revolves around a plot to steal a rare Faberge egg.
Authorities say the FBI has arrested a man suspected of placing pipe bombs outside RNC and DNC headquarters on the eve of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
A woman from Chicago's northwest suburbs appeared in court Thursday for a shooting that killed another woman in the South Loop in September.
The man charged with pushing a CTA passenger onto the tracks at a Blue Line station in Chicago's western suburbs on Monday was ordered held in jail, after repeatedly interrupting the judge and prosecutors during his first court appearance on Wednesday.
A divided Wisconsin Supreme Court has agreed to take a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of an immigrant rights group.
