State Rep. Fran Hurley (D-35th) recently announced that she will chair a special committee hearing to examine a mental health services available to Chicago area first responders.

“The tragic suicide of a Chicago police sergeant this weekend represents at least the fourth time this year that a Chicago firefighter or police officer who lives in my district has taken his own life,” Hurley said. “It is well beyond time for city and state policymakers to ask why this is happening and what we can do to stop it.”

As chair of the house police and first responders committee, Hurley will convene a hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 10 a.m in the Michael A. Bilandic Building, 160 N. LaSalle St.

Representatives of the Chicago police and fire departments, mental health experts, and family members of first responders who have fallen victim to suicide will be invited to give testimony.

A recent U.S. Justice Department report found that the suicide rate among Chicago Police personnel is 60 percent higher than the national average for police officers. A recent Florida State University study found that as many as 37 percent of firefighters nationwide suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. The same study found that nearly half of current and retired firefighters reported having suicidal thoughts at some point in their lives, which is roughly 12 times higher than the general public.

“We have a mounting mental health crisis in our state and nation among our first responders and it demands immediate action,” Hurley said. “The upcoming committee hearing will seek to pinpoint changes in state law and policy that are necessary to address this problem.”