Samaa Kemal

Emergency Department-based intervention measures such as suicide risk screenings, increased access to #pediatric #mentalhealth resources, and follow-up care and safety planning can reduce risks for #youth suicides, according to a new study. luriechildrens.org/en/news-storie… @samaakemal

Is rehearsing school shootings the best way to protect U.S. children? What if there are better ways? When did we decide to accept a reality where teachers and students have to ask these questions at all? nej.md/3BRzUYj #GunViolence

Our QI team led by @skylertomko, @LuriePEM RN, increase ED suicide screening rates for youth >10y from 23% to 69% via: - Laminated question sheets to increase privacy - RN education - Clinical pathway development - Clinical decision support to respond to (+) screens #SAEM23

Across 9 EDs in the @PECARNteam Registry, we found that pediatric mental health ED visits lasting over 12 hours increased from 7% to 15% as the pandemic progressed. Increased boarding indicates inadequate access to psychiatric services for children. @LuriePEM @ManneResearch

Juvenile justice system involvement adversely affects youths’ physical health, mental health, educational attainment, & wages in adulthood. @destinygtMD explains needed reforms in this front page @AAPNews article. publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/2… @LoisLeeMD @KatieNasher @samaakemal

1/3 of Chicago parents reported their children had direct or indirect exposure to gun violence & 20% reported related mental health symptoms. @TylerLennonMD #AAPPresidentialPlenary #PAS2023 @samaakemal @MichLMacy @karensheehanmd @MDHealthPolicy @ManneResearch @LuriePEM

Honored and humbled to give an #AAPPresidentialPlenary on “Exposure to Firearm Violence in Chicago and Its Impact on Childhood Mental Health”. Thanks to everyone’s mentorship on this project. @aap_peds @samaakemal @karensheehanmd @MichLMacy @MDHealthPolicy

My longtime mentor & inspiration 😍

Powerful words from Dr. @sofiaschaudhary, a pediatric ER physician speaking to the critical importance of safe storage laws NOW. "Every day I pray I can save at least one life. You in the legislature have the power to save thousands of lives. I'll do my job. Please do yours."

DID YOU KNOW? SCY has a new episode of the Parenting Supports Podcast! Hear about the Voices of Child Health in Chicago Report on Gun Violence Exposure and Mental Health by giving it a listen here ➡️ loom.ly/aB0b_1U #violenceprevention #scy #mentalhealth

I'm tired of living in a world where a mass shooting needs a title so you know which one we're referring to. I just signed the Protect Illinois Communities Act, which immediately bans the sale and distribution of assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and switches in IL.

Seeing how much the world accepts that it’s impossible to move on after watching CPR really makes me think about how we (medical professionals, especially those who work in Emergency departments) are expected to just move on immediately after a code.

This year, @NYTMag’s The Lives They Lived issue is about 12 children who died from gun violence — just a few of the thousands of children killed by firearms this year. nyti.ms/3YtRID9

Thanks to @ChicagoParent for highlighting @samaakemal and my study and this important issue! chicagoparent.com/parenting/heal…

Congrats to the 2022 Principal Investigator of the Year, Dr. Karen Sheehan @karensheehanmd of @LurieChildrens!!! #InjuryFree2022

Freedom is not unfettered access to guns with no questions asked. Freedom is not guns being the #1 killer of children. Freedom is not a gun homicide rate 26x that of peer nations. Freedom is not 110+ people shot and killed and 200+ shot and wounded every day.

Freedom is being able to make it home safely after grocery shopping for Thanksgiving. After attending a drag show. After a long day at school.

County-level #MentalHealth professional workforce shortages are associated with increased youth suicide rates, after adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. ja.ma/3EtFfG3 @jen_hoffmann1 @MeganAttridgeMD @afbeckMD @ERAlpernMD

Study led by @jen_hoffmann1 @LuriePEM published in @JAMAPediatrics finds youth suicide rate increased as county levels of #mentalhealth professional shortages increased, after adjusting for county demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, luriechildrens.org/en/news-storie….

Q4. More than 40% of US households have guns. How do you keep kids safe in homes with guns? #BeInjuryFree