Suicide and Mental Illness are Not Going Away

A letter to the community:

Two years ago, I attended one of the Long Short Road (then known as the Gelt Charitable Foundation) live, virtual suicide prevention workshops led by Mrs. Leigh Ioffe. The program was so informative, timely, and professional, yet understandable. After that workshop, I valued the new knowledge, though I hoped I would not have to use it because we wish that those around us stay well, safe and secure. I didn’t expect to be the one to become suicidal. Most people don’t assume they will reach this point. Most people don’t assume the people around them might ever reach this point. This is one reason why mental health and suicide prevention is a cause that has grown closer to my heart in recent years. Anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation aren’t discussed much in my environment, so no one recognized the signs of my decline in order to help me. I couldn’t really pull myself out of that state on my own.

Thank G-d, I have healed and am doing much better now. I want to help others become effective supporters of suicidal persons. Now more than ever, I understand the importance of as many individuals as possible knowing the signs and effective techniques to look out for those who may be struggling around them. Thank you to Mrs. Ioffe and the whole Long Short Road team for equipping us with the knowledge and resources to do just that!

To the Jewish community at large – get involved. Suicide and mental illness are not something that goes away because you don’t talk about it. If anything, the problem grows larger precisely when you don’t. We can’t afford to let this be something we ignore. You never know when you may need these tools and this information, but it is a guarantee that the more of us that have these skills under our belt, the stronger and safer this community will be.

The Long Short Road is raising funds right now so that they can expand their efforts and provide more resources to our community. You can learn more about what the Long Short Road does on its Instagram: @thelongshortroad, or on the website: thelongshortroad.org.

You can donate to their cause right here: charidy.com/LSR.