RUNNING TOWARD HELP

City, Samaritans partner on suicide prevention

The stigma surrounding suicide can make it hard to talk about. But one thing I’ve learned over the years is, just as we all face physical illness in one form or another, everyone encounters mental health challenges at least once in their lives. We shouldn’t be ashamed of that — it’s part of being human.

We all have battles to wage, whether from depression or trauma, grief or substance abuse. Many at some point feel that there’s nowhere else to turn, and that drastic action needs to be taken to escape.

As someone who dealt with addiction, I know how important it is to have someone in your corner — someone to turn to, when it all seems too much to handle on your own.

Th is morning, I will be joining the Samaritans, Inc. to help kick off their annual 5K race at Artesani Park in Allston.

For 40 years, this organization has been spreading hope, helping thousands of people who have suicidal thoughts, and supporting friends and family members who lost a loved one to suicide. They have been that critical voice at the other end of the phone — always there for people, at any time and on any day.

That kind of compassion can mean the difference between life and death. And we need to see more of it, all throughout our city. That’s why we decided that the city of Boston will be partnering with the Samaritans to increase awareness about suicide. Together, we’re educating workers who have regular contact with people in crisis, and training them on how to create public awareness about suicide prevention and the resources available.

We’ll be setting up Samaritans Gatekeeper Workshops for city departments, with departments that serve vulnerable populations like Veterans Services, the Elderly Commission and Boston Centers for Youth and Families. We’ll also be promoting the Samaritans’ 24-hour helpline.

As a city, we’re proud to strengthen our work with the Samaritans. Two years ago, when I was a new mayor, I joined the Samaritans at their annual breakfast. I talked about one of the first times I saw how suicide had such a strong impact on our city, and how that has stuck with me and shaped my work as an elected official.

When I was first elected as state representative to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1997, it was during the middle of a string of suicides by young men in the neighborhood of South Boston. Their futures were cut short and their families and friends were devastated. It was a terrifying time for the community. People wondered what caused these young men to take their own lives. How many more people from the neighborhood might do the same?

In response, the community set up the South Boston Collaborative Center to reach out to people suffering from suicidal thoughts. I helped grow their outreach, sending friends, family members and constituents to them for support.

Today, the center continues to provide this important service, and has since expanded to give other kinds of counseling: substance abuse, mental health and preventative work with our young people.

We don’t always know what causes suicidal thoughts or what triggers a final act of desperation. And suicide doesn’t discriminate — it can affect anyone. As someone in recovery from alcoholism, I can relate to the sense of hopelessness and helplessness a person can feel when they’ve hit their bottom. It can be overwhelming: the feeling that there’s no place to turn, no one to talk to and problems are insurmountable.

As a city, we are only as strong as our people. We need to look at what leads up to things like addiction and

suicide. We need safe outlets to share our feelings and experiences. And we need to get rid of stigma — the giant force that can hold us back, and prevent us from seeking critical help.

We need to continue to raise awareness about suicide, and show that it’s possible to move past these feelings and see a better future. We need to talk to people — family members, friends, co-workers or neighbors — and let them know about the resources and support available to them. And in all our interactions, we need to remember that a little kindness and compassion can go a long way.

I encourage anyone who suffers from suicidal thoughts to call or text the Samaritans’ 24-hour helpline at 877-870-HOPE.