Joliet officials point to sharp decline in suicides in city

Suicides in the city are down 50% since a community mental health program started more than two years ago, Joliet officials said Tuesday.

There were no teen suicides in that period, they said.

“There are a lot of people in the community working toward this effort,” Joliet Fire Chief Jeff Carey said.

Carey in 2022 pointed to 12 suicides among area high school students as he urged approval of a new program in which the city would spend $400,000 to ensure residents get mental health care.

Those teen suicides went beyond the borders of Joliet.

But Carey and city officials are pointing to the latest numbers as indicators that the program is working in Joliet.

The program has provided 15,000 therapy sessions for Joliet residents since it began in July 2022.

According to the city, 30% of the people who have used the program have been between the ages of 10 and 20.

Joliet has partnered with Thriveworks, a private provider, to get treatment for residents who otherwise might wait weeks before seeing a mental health professional if they were able to see anyone at all.

The program began within the fire department because its paramedics often are the contact point for people in need of treatment.

“I think it’s incredible what Chief Carey and his department have done with the Thriveworks program,” council member Joe Clement said.

Clement presented the latest suicide numbers at the City Council meeting Tuesday to bring attention to the progress made since the program started.

Carey said community involvement has driven the success so far.

Joliet Township High School District 204, in particular, has raised awareness of the program among students, he said.

“They really got the message out to the kids,” Carey said, citing an experience the fire department had during a CPR presentation at Joliet Central High School. “Every kid who came up to the table knew about the mental health program.”

Other organizations and institutions that have been involved in the program include the Will-Grundy Medical Clinic, the Will County Health Department, Ascension Saint Joseph – Joliet hospital and Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.

Comments made at the City Council meeting were preceded earlier in the day by an announcement from the city that the Joliet Fire Department will be recognized for the community health program at the National Fire and Emergency Services dinner on Feb. 13 in Washington, D.C.