Strength in transparency: Mental health advocates talk suicide prevention

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Two women who joined forces to create the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Wisconsin Chapter, recently met up at the Capitol to urge legislators to take action when it comes to mental health resources.

“I didn’t know all the things I know now; I didn't know that I had an illness...it wasn’t that I wanted to die, it was that I didn’t want to be in pain," said Gena Orlando.

Orlando opened up about her own personal struggles growing up. She is a proud member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention--the largest suicide prevention organization in the country.

She holds the current position of director of the Wisconsin Chapter.

On March 16, CBS 58 tagged along on their fifth annual 'Advocacy State Capitol Day," as they shared their personal stories, and pushed for millions of dollars in funds to keep life-saving programs alive

"Wisconsin supports the number 988 but from a national level, we are in the bottom third of call responses from in-state people and it’s important to me that the state continues to fund so that we have people from Wisconsin answering calls," said Beverly Goldberg, in front of members at the Capitol in Madison, ahead of their one-on-one time with state representatives.

According to the latest data registered in 2020, the CDC reports that suicide is the 10th-leading cause of death in Wisconsin, and the second-leading cause of death for ages 10-44.

Goldberg, however, says mental health can affect anyone at any age.

"When our daughter passed away in 2013, there were several deaths by suicide on the North Shore of Milwaukee," she said.

That year, she joined forces with Orlando as volunteers of AFSP, and eventually helped establish the Wisconsin Chapter.

“If you were looking at Abby on the outside, you saw a vibrant young lady who was a state-ranked swimmer at the age of 12, she was very musically inclined, she had a great group and network of friends, and I would say our friends and neighbors were very surprised as we were, that she just struggled with depression and anxiety, and she, at the end of the day, did not see herself as other people saw her," Goldberg said.

Abby is the youngest of three siblings. Goldberg told CBS 58 that her then-teenage daughter struggled with peer pressure and bullying.

“You know, we talked to her about it and she said, 'I would like to see a therapist, I would like to see a nutritionist,'" Goldberg shared. "So she was all in on, you know, her care...the frightening thing is she started struggling in October and by July she was gone."

Having gone through a similar path of darkness herself, Orlando opened up about how she attempted suicide at the age of 13.

She said it took her about a decade to realize her purpose.

"That was the first time I heard the phrase ‘suicide prevention’…that changed my life,” she said with tears in her eyes.

Today, she aims to be a voice of hope.

"We're working so hard to try to get people to understand that stigma keeps people from getting help, it takes strength to reach out for that help," she said.

It also takes strength to ask a loved one if it's crossed their mind.

"It’s really important to ask...are you thinking about suicide?" Goldberg said. "People don’t want to ask that and you don’t think that’s a normal question to ask but if you normalize it, people feel more comfortable about that."

Goldberg told CBS 58 she wears a bracelet with the engraving 'in our hearts forever' in her daughter's honor--she's worn it for a decade now.

"It’s been 10 years and you think, you know, they say time heals but time just gives you a reason to work, work your way through it and learn more about, you know, helping other people," Goldberg said.