>> Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among children and young adults in the U.S.

That's according to the CDC and in Chicago.

Suicide rates among black youth are rising faster than any other racial or ethnic group.

As part of Mental Health Awareness Month.

And in partnership with students from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, We take a look at what's happening in Chicago and how to organizations are working to address this.

>> I know the most key up on the lot.

When I was in crime novel and ruled I thought about suicide.

And on the look at me over.

So that's that's my role to kids.

I know what helped me.

>> I am a social worker, but I'm the founder of Soul.

So by visiting Chicago.

It's a nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention and mental health awareness.

I lost my son by way of suicide.

His name was tomorrow.

He was 19 years old.

It was the worst day of my life.

>> Amendment Foundation's House of Hope Foundation.

No cause them is more of a platform that we live about.

We have to educate not program every device that was the 40 50 kids.

This is a What we have video We feed the kids, get a haircut.

We also teach with the current law, comes down the troubled banks and like that, he I wanted to take what everybody says who get this pain?

>> And turn it into something that doctor that's about purpose.

That's about spreading the message because my son died and even have to them.

>> And Chicago, what we've seen is there's been a big increase in suicide deaths since 2018 for black youth.

The the percentage who are attempting is much higher compared to other folks when the main reason kids and he's going commit suicide is the environment.

They have nothing to look for many acts.

you know, I can't focus in school.

>> He's saying, you know, I just saw somebody killed or have 82 days.

What a great love on hospice I you got to look at like far, the Russell Senate is more broader than what people think.

a kid 15 years-old, he's doing 67% today.

That's like social side.

a 15 year-old young man get a gun, put on a mask.

And when the police come, he shoots at the police back in 4 in his mind.

know there's a 99% chance is going to die.

So what does what does a lot?

>> This is a gun law.

So if you know somebody with a I please take one our take to, you know, 2 people would line and also take.

still, my has some of the most restrictive gun laws.

But at the same time, we're learning that persons who are backed by way suicides, especially males more likely to die behind them.

weapon like a is.

>> Much faster to get a guy on news to get a mental health.

A point.

>> They know what a neighborhood people had to go community.

Then you got a thing on top of itself.

That's not safely.

Got to walk on is not in the case of black Historically for understandable reasons.

Do not trust the mental health care system historically white mental health care system to have a resource.

That something that is dependable accessible.

>> Something that's unknown.

It's something that reachable is everything.

Just just like water.

Just like fresh air.

>> Are we providing culturally relevant services where people are and in a format that makes sense to them.

>> Being in the community brings the message you don't have to travel far to get the support that you need We can come and we can be right here with walk away.

>> One of the most important parts of suicide prevention.

Is hoping.

People build lives worth living and communities to make sure that they're creating a world that kids want to live I felt the need for at-risk young black kids.

need to help but needed the The right guidance and the right positive motivation from people look like them.

>> We do what's called a circle.

Well, have all the key is put out some governor and we just talk about every life they met strong what they want, ups and downs.

Then we'll at something called when it come over here.

Grab out.

>> at all with the the Granite State, but I been and then we bring about.

A kid can either be in DC was in games, the party.

What will that do?

we have the kids come because the lies that a key seize a clean commuting makes a clean heart and clean slow and a positive mind.

There's this myth.

>> That if you ask somebody if they're having thoughts of suicide, you can put the idea into their head and what we know from research and just general clinical experiences.

That's not true.

>> Most of our children speak about the anxieties.

They the stresses going to the next level in their lives, making sure that they can connect with you and that you are one point in your time in your life.

You felt that Conway and you're going through so you can normalize that conversation.

You can judge him.

>> You can't talk against them yet.

Hopeful if you care for these kids, they can change.

takes a while.

But if you care, you want to say somebody because love, you know, love.

>> Since this story was produced, new data has been released.

That information provided at the end of April by the CDC shows that nationally suicide rates for youth and young adults aged 15 to 34 decreased by 4% from 2023 to 2024. the latest year statistics are available.

We're back with more right after this.

>> Reflecting the people and