| (MADISON) – Today, Barb Bigalke, executive director of the Center for Suicide Awareness, received the Wisconsin Heroes Award for her work in suicide awareness and prevention. The Center provides services and training across the state, including through HOPELINE – Wisconsin’s only no-cost, 24/7 text-based service providing immediate support to those in need.
“I want to say thank you to Barb and everyone at the Center for Suicide Awareness,” said Senator Lena Taylor (D – Milwaukee). “I look forward to continuing to work with the Center so we can continue and expand the important work they are doing on the ground.”
During the 2017 – 2019 biannual budget, Senator Lena Taylor and other Democratic members of the Joint Committee on Finance offered an omnibus motion that included $220,000 in HOPELINE funding for the biennium. Unfortunately, that motion was rejected.
“I told my colleagues then what I said to the First Lady now: we need to support the people who are doing the work on the ground. We cannot afford to stand by while Wisconsin’s suicide rate continues to rise and our residents remain at risk.”
Wisconsin’s suicide rate, and number of deaths resulting from suicide, have increased between 2005 and 2015, and according to the Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health, Wisconsin’s teen suicide rate has been higher than the national rate for all but one year between 1999 and 2015. That rate has doubled between 2007 and 2015.
“The time to act is now. In the coming weeks, Rep. Mike Rohrkaste (R – Neenah) and I will introduce a bill to help HOPELINE. I invite all my colleagues to join us in this effort.” |
