September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. It is a time to share resources in an effort to shed light on this highly stigmatized topic. We use this month to reach out to those affected by suicide, raise awareness and connect individuals to one another to promote a healthy and open discussion. It is also important to ensure that individuals, friends and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention.
At the September 17th meeting of Mayor and Council, I will be celebrating the work of Mallory’s Army, a local foundation from Rockaway, NJ which honors the memory of Mallory Grossman who tragically took her own life as a result of bullying. Additionally, on September 20th, a community awareness event hosted by Caring Contact and a local Scotch Plains family, will be held in Scotch Plains to promote an open discussion regarding mental health, depression and suicide. For more information on this event, please visit caringcontact.org. I encourage all of our residents to openly discuss and engage with one another this month to support suicide prevention awareness and help remove the stigma that surrounds mental health.
