Hello, Sen. Jesse James here.
September is Suicide Prevention Month. I know suicide can be a difficult topic to discuss, but this month is dedicated to bringing awareness to an issue that touches thousands of Americans. In 2022, over 49,000 Americans decided to take their own life. That is one life lost every 11 minutes. If you look at just our state, we lost 924 Wisconsinites to suicide in 2022. Suicide impacts everyone, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.
We have come such a long way in the mental health discussion. We have worked for years trying to destigmatize the need for some extra help and support and establishing the community resources needed to accommodate these needs, but there is still work to be done.
The Legislature has made great strides in trying to help address the mental health crisis we are experiencing. We invested in trying to improve outcomes by increasing access to mental health care for our farmers, establishing new programs and facilities for those experiencing a mental health crisis, expanding school based mental health services and more. Every step we take towards addressing mental health on the front end can help save a life.
No one in this world should feel alone. It is up to us as friends, neighbors, and loved ones to support each other through the tough times and remind one another how much we really do care.
