The suicide rate for young people is much higher in rural areas - The Washington Post

 

Suicide rates for young people are almost twice as high in rural areas as they are in urban areas, and the gap among males is widening, a team of researchers reported Monday. While the use of firearms in suicides declined, the rate of hangings and suffocations rose for both males and females.

Writing in JAMA Pediatrics, a team of researchers from Ohio State University found suicide rates of 19.93 per 100,000 for males and 4.4 per 100,00 for females in rural areas, compared to 10.31 per 100,000 for males and 2.39 per 100,000 for  females in urban areas. The study examined 66,595 suicides by people ages 10 to 24 between 1996 and 2010.

Completed suicides are much more common among males than females, even among this age group. Men commit four out of every five suicides, the new study shows. For this age group, it was the third-leading cause of death, behind only accidental injuries and homicides. Sixty percent of the suicides were committed by people between 20 and 24.

[Robin Williams was part of a group facing high suicide risk: Older white men with depression.]

Suicide rates for boys and men declined in most urban areas but remained largely unchanged in rural areas, widening the already substantial gap in those rates, the researchers, led by Cynthia A. Fontanella, an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Ohio State, reported.

The report offered several explanations for the findings, emphasizing the relative shortage of mental health care in rural settings "owing to chronic shortages of clinicians." It also suggests social isolation from friends and family, the economic impact of the Great Recession and easier access to firearms in rural areas as other possible explanations.

"Suicide is a major cause of gun deaths in rural areas, and evidence suggests that firearm ownership is associated with suicide," the researchers wrote.

In the midst of such limitations, having primary care physicians do more mental health work, employing more telemedicine and intervening in school are three of the more promising solutions, they wrote.

The suicide rate for young people is much higher in rural areas - The Washington Post

CTA ‘L’ sees highest ridership in 50 years, yet budget cuts loom

 

More than 238 million people rode the ‘L’ in 2014, the highest number in over 50 years.

Yet it is also a number that could be affected dramatically with Governor Bruce Rauner’s recent proposal to cut $130 million in the state funding for mass transit, of which the CTA would face the brunt of the cuts, about $105 million, or seven percent of its overall operating budget.

This could result in deep service cuts and possible fare increases. Less train and bus services at a higher cost could have a substantial effect on the many DePaul students who use the CTA on a daily basis.

“If I had to start waking up earlier just because the train takes longer, I’m by definition going to be a less happy person,” said senior Robert Martin.

Martin takes the ‘L’ almost every day for class and work and thus relies on it as his main source of transportation around the city.

For senior Charles Wynne, the bus is his main mode of transportation during the winter months. He relies heavily on the bus to get to work and school.

“I think it’s important to have a frequent line,” Wynne said. “If it doesn’t come as frequently, I would have to schedule my life way stricter and leave my house at a certain time which would overall lead to an inconvenience.”

One of the major problems Wynne could see potentially arising with the CTA, as a result of Rauner’s proposed budget cuts being passed, is the environmental impact.

“From an environmental standpoint, you are able to commute tons of people on one bus on just one tank of gas,” Wynne said. “Without it, you’re promoting people to get cars, which is going to be worse for the environment. I’m definitely for public transportation as a whole.”

For Martin, the main concern is how many people will be put out of a job.

“Cutting jobs is not a good thing in a city where everyone is struggling to find a job,” Martin said.

There has been no word yet on how Rauner’s plan will affect jobs within the CTA but usually major budget cuts can lead to major job cuts as well.

For example, according to Progress Illinois, Rauner’s proposed budget cuts in Medicaid could mean, “a 10 percent spending cut to hospitals alone (which) would mean the loss of more than 8,200 jobs and $1.1 billion in economic activity.”

According to CTA spokesperson Brian Steele, Rauner’s proposal “would risk reversing improvements the CTA has made in recent years.”

Martin feels, as a result, the CTA needs to “cool it” with the big changes they are going to be going through, although he gets where they are coming from because they might have no other choice.

“I realize it’s difficult cause there’s no easy way to run an operation that big,” Martin said. “If (the CTA is) being sanctioned by Rauner, then I don’t know, what can they even do?”

At the same time, Martin also believes that riders will have no other choice but to accept what is going to happen next with Rauner’s proposal.

“So many people rely on (the CTA) so whether or not it’s screwing them over, they’re going to be taking it everyday still. They have to get to work or (wherever), so I feel like in that sense they can do whatever they want and people are still going to be their customers. No one is going to stop riding or just start biking all the time. I’m not going to do that. (So) they’re kind of in a position where they can do anything but they’re (also) definitely going to piss a lot of people off in the process.”

CTA ‘L’ sees highest ridership in 50 years, yet budget cuts loom

Facing shortfall, Rauner suspends $26 million in state health, social services grants | Chicago

 

Gov. Bruce Rauner has suspended $26 million in social services and public health grants as part of his push to whittle away at a $1.6 billion shortfall in the current state budget.

The Republican’s office released a list of targeted programs late Friday that included funding to pay for the funerals and burials of public-assistance recipients, smoking cessation, teen programs, autism and HIV and AIDS programs, among other things.

Rauner also froze $3.4 million in funding for immigrant integration assistance as part of ongoing efforts to keep the state rolling through the June 30 end of the budget year.

He also interrupted $180 million in parkland grants in March.

Rauner’s office said the check-writing halt was needed because the expenditures were based on the assumption that a temporary income tax would be extended past January, but it wasn’t, after Rauner won the election.

“Part of the solution to solving the inherited $1.6 billion budget hole without raising taxes or increasing borrowing is to continue to evaluate the current fiscal year’s budget,” Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly said. “The governor’s office worked with agencies to see which grants could be suspended and prioritized essential services.”

The cuts will save the state $21.8 million in Department of Human Services Grants and $4.5 million in unexpended funding through the Department of Public Health and the suspensions affect only this yearís funding, Kelly said.

But there’s always another price — this one paid for by constituents who, as soon as Monday morning, will be told — by closed doors — there’s no more money to help them.

Breandan Magee, senior director of programs for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, said dozens of organizations assisted 102,000 legal immigrants in 2014 with applications for citizenship, English as a Second Language classes and health and nutrition programs for low-income immigrants.

“There are 299 jobs across 60 different immigrant-services agencies at risk” with funding ceasing, Magee said Saturday. “There are workshops scheduled for citizenship, applications for citizenship pending, ESL classes hallway through.”

Immigrant integration programs — which Rauner proposed eliminating entirely in the 2016 budget — will forfeit nearly half of their $6.7 million budget, according to figures provided by the governor’s office. Magee said he hopes the state will cover expenses he’s already incurred.

Department of Human Services
Funeral & Burial, $6.9 million
Immigrant Integration Services, $3.4 million
Welcoming Centers, $191,300
ARC Lifespan, $118,100
Best Buddies, $250,000
Autism, $1 million
Group Home Loans, $20,000
Compulsive Gambling, $406,000
Westside Health, $94,200
Addiction Prevention, $1.6 million
Assistance for Homeless, $300,000
Community Services, $2 million
Teen REACH, $3.1 million
Coalition F/Tech Assist-Child, $250,000
For Childrenís Health Program, $231,600
Outreach to Individuals to Engage in Services, $380,700
Regions Special Consumer Support, $277,700
SMRF Training, $420,100
Transportation, $43,900
DD Latino Outreach, $87,500
Microboard Development and Outreach, $47,500
Epilepsy, $514,700
DHS TOTAL: $21.8 million

Department of Natural Resources
Brothers and Sisters United Against HIV/AIDS, $789,800
Increasing Access to Health Care-Wellness on Wheels,  $180,000
Wellness on Wheels – Mobile Administration 2015,  $135,000
Illinois Tobacco Quitline, $3.1 million
Project Safe Sleep Education and Outreach, $250,000
MidAmerica Regional Public Health Leadership Institute, $75,000
IDPH TOTAL: $4.5 million

Department of Natural Resources (suspended in March)
Park and Recreational Facility Construction, $89.5 million
Open Space Lands Acqusition and Development, $56.3 million
Museum Capital Grants, $30.4 million
Bike Paths, Mud-to-Parks, others, $2.6 million
IDNR TOTAL: $178.8 million

Sources: Office of the Governor, Illinois Department of Natural Resources

 

Facing shortfall, Rauner suspends $26 million in state health, social services grants | Chicago