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Milwaukee suicide prevention training
Milwaukee mental health advocates marked World Suicide Prevention Day on Wednesday by encouraging conversations, reducing stigma and expanding training opportunities.
MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee mental health advocates marked World Suicide Prevention Day on Wednesday, Sept. 10, by encouraging conversations, reducing stigma and expanding training opportunities.
What we know:
At Milwaukee High School of the Arts on Wednesday, Jesse Schober participated in a suicide prevention training as part of the We Can Save Lives Tour.
"Everyone matters and people need to know they matter," Schober said. "It’s an ongoing issue."
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Schober said suicide prevention is personal for her family.
"It has affected my family. My grandmother had committed suicide which affected my father’s mental health, so it’s a very important topic for me and my family," she said.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services lists suicide among the top 10 leading causes of death in the state.
Levi Stein, president and CEO of Friendship Circle, said the training initiative has broad reach.
"We did this 41 times. And imagine 41 people commit to doing 41 more trainings," Stein said. "You know how many lives that would impact? And we’re not stopping."
Dig deeper:
The training was launched in memory of former Milwaukee Alderman Jonathan Brostoff, who died by suicide in November 2024. Stein said Brostoff’s goal was to empower communities to prevent suicide.
"It teaches you how to recognize when someone’s having thoughts of suicide. It teaches you how to ask the question, teaches you how to be a good listener," Stein said.
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The program also connects participants with resources to guide those in need toward professional help.
Schober said she is ready to apply what she has learned.
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"I’m looking forward to how to approach individuals, what things to say, maybe seeing signs and being someone who can help save a life," she said.
What you can do:
Milwaukee offers a number of free mental health resources for residents seeking support.
The Source: The information in this post was collected and produced by FOX6 News.