Blog

Opinion – The Politicization of Mental Health: How to Break Down the Stigma & the Silence

  Katie Posthuma-Bain shares her thoughts on the politicization of mental health. Suicide. An impulsive decision that often results in death. In Milwaukee, jumping from the Hoan Bridge may not be the way most suicide attempts take place, but the annual average of one known death, according to Prevent Suicide Greater Milwaukee, is still one…
Read more


May 10, 2018 0

‘Freedom From Depression’ Book Review

Reading the book “Freedom from Depression; 6 keys to eliminating emotional pain,” did more than providing a  heart throbbing reality of depression that rests in millions of Americans today, it also provided the necessary tool and strategies to overcome the truth and stigma behind depression. Dr. Anthony Piparao does this by providing statistics and studies from…
Read more


May 10, 2018 0

Travis Pipes: A Story of Survival

Travis Pipes, a suicide survivor, suicide activist, and an interviewee in the movie “Suicide: The Ripple Effect,” said that his life was changed five years ago by a simple photo call to Kevin Hines, who had survived a jump off the Golden Gate Bridge on Sept. 24, 2000. “I was introduced to Kevin Hines through…
Read more


May 9, 2018 0

A Simple Call Is All You Need to Get Help

There are a number of resources in Wisconsin that people can visit or talk on the phone with if they are having suicidal thoughts.  These three specific organizations either work directly or indirectly with people who are considering suicide.  If you are feeling suicidal or know someone that is considering suicide, you can always contact…
Read more


May 9, 2018 1

The Signs of Suicide, Handled With Care

Five years ago Travis Pipes’ life was spiraling out of control.  He was struggling with drug addiction, anxiety and depression. Pipes had almost given up on his life, but he stopped himself. He recognized that there was something seriously wrong. Before taking any drastic measures, Pipes called Kevin Hines who was a survivor of attempted…
Read more


May 8, 2018 0

Officers Are Civilians Too

  “We see dead bodies, we see abused children, [and] bad accidents” are just some of the tragedies Sergeant Adam Malcara of the City of Racine explained when describing what officers see on the job. Officers can encounter suicide both externally in their work and internally after the job. With law enforcement suicide rates being…
Read more


May 8, 2018 0

The Overlooked Demographic: Suicide in middle-aged men

  The people who die by suicide are not primarily teenage females, as many tend to think. The group of individuals who die by suicide at the highest rate is not teenagers, nor is it females. It is middle-aged men. According to Waukesha County Technical College psychology professor and Prevent Suicide Greater Milwaukee volunteer Dr.…
Read more


May 8, 2018 0

The Peer Support Team at the City of Racine Police Department

911 – it’s what we dial during an emergency and first responders are present within a short period of time.  As members of the public, we can count on first responders to help us when we are in a crisis situation. But not often enough do we consider who those first responders turn to when…
Read more


May 7, 2018 0

Suicide flashpoint: Men in midlife

In 2016, seven out of ten suicide deaths were white males, according to the American Society of Suicide Prevention. (https://afsp.org/about-suicide/suicide-statistics/) Nationally, white men, ages 45-65, make up the group that is at greatest risk for suicide. “Actual interventions tend to focus a lot on young people,” explained Dr. Robert Dubois, a psychologist who teaches at…
Read more


May 7, 2018 0

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…
Read more


May 6, 2018 0