Contact: Rep. Joan Ballweg (608) 266-8077
To Be Held April 24 in Madison
Madison…Representative Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan), chair of the Speaker’s Task Force on Suicide Prevention, and Representative Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska), vice chair, announced today the first meeting to be held on Wednesday, April 24, in the State Capitol.
“I’m looking forward to starting our work as a task force,” said Ballweg. “We’ve invited speakers to present a full picture of the state of suicide in Wisconsin, around the nation, through policy and advocacy.”
Invited speakers will include representatives from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Center for Suicide Awareness, Mental Health America, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the State of Nevada’s Office of Suicide Prevention.
“Suicide is a heartbreaking and devastating hardship that has impacted too many of our friends, neighbors and community members,” said Doyle. “It’s time we work to address this issue.”
The first meeting of the task force will begin at 11:00 am in Room 412 East of the State Capitol. While the hearing is open to the public, only testimony from invited speakers will be taken. Public testimony will be heard at subsequent hearings held throughout the state.
If you or someone you care about needs help, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text the Wisconsin HOPELINE at 741741.
