Morris To Host Suicide Prevention Webinar
MORRIS TWP., NJ—Morris Township Mayor Cathy Wilson will host a suicide prevention webinar Thursday night, in recognition of September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
Mayor Wilson, Chatham Borough Councilman Len Resto, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the Moms Demand Action Morris County group will participate in the live webinar at 7 p.m.
"There s a real need for open, honest communication about mental health issues," said Wilson, "especially now with all the stress covid is causing."
The webinar will feature a talk by Resto, a survivor, and a lecture on depression and risk factors from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). The Moms Demand Action group will speak about the one thing you should do when a loved one is in crisis.
According to AFSP data, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. 48,344 people committed suicide in the U.S. in 2018. An additional 1.4 million attempted suicide in 2018, according to the AFSP.
"The numbers are absolutely staggering," said Wilson, who issued a proclamation earlier this month confirming September as Suicide Awareness Prevention Month in Morris Township.
There will be an opportunity for the audience to ask questions and interact with the panelists following the presentations. Wilson said the Q and A portion will be vital to making a difference.
"Its important to build our understanding about causes of suicide and how to prevent it," said Wilson, "and doing that helps everybody."
This article originally appeared on the Morris Township-Morris Plains Patch
