Mi-Journey and WSJM News Host ‘Suicide Prevention Town Hall’

suicidepreventiontownhall
suicidepreventiontownhall

Ray Gustafson of WSJM News moderated a special Suicide Prevention Town Hall held Tuesday (October 17) at the Mi-Journey Drop-In Center, featuring panelists from the community. The event aired live on News/Talk 94.9 WSJM and sister station ROCK 107 WIRX along with Facebook live without commercial interruption to shed light on the troubling statistics and stories of loss, and movement forward for those in need of help.

Panelists for the evening included Michelle Olson of Riverwood Center, Anna-Magdalena Christianson representing MI-JOURNEY, Trent Watford of the Berrien County Suicide Prevention Coalition, and Denise Haskins, who lost a parent and a son to suicide.

Some of the resources mentioned by the panelists and members of the audience included:

  • If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 911 immediately. Do not wait. Or go to the nearest emergency room
  • MI-JOURNEY Drop-In Center at 2460 M-139 Suite B in Benton Harbor. (269) 944-9448. Online at https://www.mi-journey.org/
  • The National Suicide Prevention Hotline at (800) 273-TALK (8255)
  • SAMHSA – The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at (800) 985-5990
  • Berrien CARES: Suicide Prevention Coalition at http://www.berriencares.org/
  • Riverwood Center in Benton Harbor & Niles. Call (269) 925-0585 or 684-4270 and online at http://www.riverwoodcenter.org/
  • Healthy Men Michigan: http://healthymenmichigan.org/
  • TEXT FOR HELP: 741741 on your cell phone
  • TEXT FOR HELP: 66746 on your cell phone “Talk with Us” Network
  • Use the ‘I Need Help’ Resource on Facebook.com or the Facebook app
  • Sacred Heart Serenity Hills – Substance Abuse Inpatient Treatment and Rainbows of Recovery at the OutCenter. Contact Laura Steinke (Peer Recovery Coach) at (269) 605-3941

You can watch and share this Facebook Live video recording of the event here. Please note that there is no audio in the beginning of the video. You can scroll ahead and the event will start: