Depression Poll Results / Olympians / CPS Attendance / Hate Crime

Feeling on edge? You're not alone.

Anxiety and depression have become a serious public health issue that some experts say deserves as much attention as the coronavirus crisis's physical toll.

The troubling national trend hasn't bypassed folks in Chicago and throughout the state, according to a Patch online survey.

Hundreds of Patch readers who responded to our online poll of how they were feeling overwhelmingly reported being bothered by feeling down, on edge, uncontrollable worrying and a loss of interest in doing things over the last two weeks.

Patch Survey Results: Most IL Poll Respondents Report Regular Anxiety, Depression

Sloppy. High: 41 Low: 26

• Two synagogues, a kosher grocery and bakery in the West Ridge neighborhood were the targets of antisemitic vandalism, police say. Windows were smashed, and swastikas were painted on the side of the F.R.E.E. synagogue. Police had a person in custody Monday. (Patch)
• "Re-entry anxiety" is partly to blame for Chicago Public Schools still grappling with low attendance rates, according to reporter Mila Koumpilova. At just below 90 percent, average attendance has remained squarely below pre-pandemic levels in the fall, new data shows. (Chalkbeat)
• Meet the 14 athletes from the Chicago area and across Illinois — skaters, ski jumpers and five women's hockey players, among them — who are going for gold in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. (Patch)
• "Really? Matt and Ryan?" a Bears reporter asked team chairman George McCaskey on Monday at the first news conference with new general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus, who replaced Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy, respectively. McCaskey rolled his eyes. Jeff Arnold has the details. (Patch)

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Just The Links:

• A new report says 1 in 4 local high school kids use tobacco.
• Ozzy the Lincoln Park Zoo snow leopard loves Chicago winters.
• United Center is getting a sports betting parlor.
• The "stealth omicron" coronavirus subvariant has arrived in Illinois.
• Have you ever seen "vacuum cleaner" dibs? Here's your chance.

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