Talking Them Down: A guide to communicating with a suicidal person
On an April day in 2017, Milwaukee Fire Chief John Litchford was driving home when he came across a “red flag” situation. A woman, most likely in her 20s, was sitting on a dangerous part of the bridge. “I recognized someone on top of the Hoan Bridge, outside of their vehicle, sitting on the rail,”…
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Out of the Darkness and Into Some Sneakers
Suicide affects more than just the person involved. It affects the friends, family, and acquaintances of the person. It affects the rescue workers and morticians. It even affects people who did not know the person at all. However, there is something that can be done. The Out of the Darkness Walk is hosted by…
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What Are Suicide Barriers?
Suicide barriers are much more common than you might think, but what are they? Often times, we pass these barriers not even realizing or questioning their purpose. Suicide barriers adorn buildings, parking structures, bridges, freeway overpasses, iconic landmarks, and other tall structures all over the world. Barriers have several different forms, including metal nets, or…
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All That Separates You: Suicide Barriers On the Hoan Bridge
The Hoan Bridge is undeniably an iconic Milwaukee landmark. While the yellow bridge adds to the picturesque skyline, and is an essential vein into the downtown, it also serves as a destination for suicide. Although this information could not be formally verified, according to an article published on May 25, 2016, by Milwaukee News Station,…
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Nurturing resilient teens: Fundraiser supports mental health programming in schools
Tammy Langhoff is willing to swim the length of Lake Michigan — all 307 miles — if that’s what it takes to help teens struggling with anxiety, depression and mental illness. But it’s not quite as daunting as it seems. “I’m swimming indoors, and I’m taking all of 2018 to do it, which averages out…
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Katie Posthuma-Bain & Her Petition to Install Barriers on the Hoan Bridge
Annually in Milwaukee, at least one known suicidal death occurs on the Hoan Bridge, according to Katie Posthuma-Bain, who started a petition in January 2018 on change.org to install barriers on the Hoan Bridge. It’s hard to miss the Hoan Bridge when driving in Milwaukee. The large yellow arches are beautiful to drive under as…
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Three-to-six questions to save a life: The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale
Talking about suicide – whether with an acquaintance, friend or family member – isn’t easy. Even for psychologists and social workers, knowing what to say or how to ask can be difficult. This is why Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Pittsburgh – supported by the National Institute of Mental Health…
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