On World Suicide Prevention Day, local leaders, activists, and community members gathered to honor Jonathan Brostoff and highlight efforts to address suicide, which takes hundreds of thousands of lives annually. The day emphasized the theme “Changing the Narrative on Suicide,” aiming to dispel myths and encourage open discussion, as per the Statement of Alderperson JoCasta Zamarripa.
As the one-year anniversary of Brostoff’s passing approaches, his life was recognized in a special program that also noted Rabbi Levi Stein’s work leading 41 suicide prevention trainings throughout Wisconsin, representing each year of Brostoff’s life. The Common Council has supported these initiatives through the Council Led Transformation Fund.
Event activities included Gatekeeper training sessions on suicide prevention, with a focus on QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Suicide Prevention, a technique designed to provide immediate assistance to those in crisis.
For immediate support, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can be reached by dialing 988. Online chat is available at 988lifeline.org, and text messages can be sent to 741741 during a crisis.
