Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have been struggling with their mental health. Some have had problems with self-worth in the past, and the shutdown of many businesses has extrapolated those feelings, causing more problems.
Prevent Suicide Manitowoc County is reaching out to the community to see how they can better be of assistance, as they will be holding a virtual community gathering at 6:00 pm this evening.
We spoke with Donna Firman from the organization who explained that the event is “an opportunity for the community to collaborate and tell us at Prevent Suicide, what you want in terms of support services, and suicide prevention services.” The group will also be informing the public about what some other coalitions are doing to help their communities.
You do have to register for this free event, which can be done by either going to the events tab on their Facebook page or by calling Prevent Suicide at 920-901-0779.
Firman says this is a very important event for the community because “This is our opportunity to think big, dream big and provide great services.”
Firman said that the national suicide hotlines have been overrun with calls, which signifies that more and more people are struggling. If you need help, reach out for help by talking to a friend, a mental health professional, or by calling 1-800-273-8255.
Meanwhile, a former U.S. Marine is bringing attention to fallen veterans.
Over Memorial Day Weekend, retired Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Tim Chambers raised awareness about veteran suicide by standing on a median in Washington D.C. and saluting for 24-hours.
Chambers has been doing this every year since 2002.
The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs says an active duty service member or veteran commits suicide nearly every hour.
