State Assemblyman Paul Tittl has informed us of a new program that will be starting up very soon. Assemblyman Tittl has been selected to be on the Special Speaker’s Task Force for Suicide Prevention. Suicide prevention has been a major talking point throughout the country recently, and the task force will attempt to find ways to curb the trend of suicide in Wisconsin. According to Tittl, “700 Wisconsinites die by suicide every year.” And of those men aged 45 to 54 have the highest rate.
Turning the tide of suicide is something that Tittl has been doing for quite some time, especially for Veterans. Tittl explained that he is a part of the Veteran and Military Affairs Committee, and chairs the Mental Health Committee in the Assembly. Tittl told us “Suicide is our number one” priority.
The task force will be holding committee hearings throughout the state to hear from the public. They will then figure out how to draft legislation to help lower and ultimately eliminate the number of suicides in Wisconsin. We asked Tittl how legislation could help. He cited legislation that passed last year which brought a text suicide prevention line into fruition. “It may seem kinda dumb, but the way kids are communicating nowadays is a lot through text.” Tittl explained. He went on to explain that the anonymity involved with a text is more likely to entice young adults into actually sharing how they are feeling. Tittl told us that this text line has saved “hundreds of people.”
A big problem in Wisconsin is the shortage of professionals in mental health-related fields. Tittl explained that “A psychiatrist for example when he graduates from medical college, he has probably about the same amount of debt as a family practitioner…and psychiatrists are on the lower end of the pay scale.” One way Tittl said legislation could fix that is by creating a tax credit for being licensed in the state of Wisconsin. As the committee hearings become scheduled, we will be sure to let you know when and where they will all be taking place.
