00:00 - Good morning everyone.

00:01 - My name is Jen Smith, and I am the deputy secretary

00:05 - for the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

00:09 - here in the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.

00:12 - That's a mouthful.

00:13 - Thank you so much for joining us today.

00:16 - As we recognize Suicide Prevention Month here at the Capitol.

00:19 - And talk about what the Shapiro administration's

00:23 - suicide prevention plan for Pennsylvania entails.

00:27 - I especially want to thank leadership from fellow agencies,

00:30 - including the Department of Corrections, Pennsylvania State Police,

00:34 - and Pennsylvania Insurance Department, as well as our state

00:38 - legislators who are speaking today.

00:41 - We also have agencies and other organizations

00:44 - located around the rotunda providing resources on suicide prevention,

00:50 - including information specific to those they serve

00:53 - and those most at risk for suicide, such as veterans,

00:57 - older Pennsylvanians, farmers and agricultural workers.

01:01 - Members of the LGBT, Q, LGBTQ plus.

01:07 - Try that again, community and so many others.

01:11 - I want to encourage you to check out the Prevent Suicide.

01:14 - PA Public Service Announcement poster contest winners

01:18 - and congratulate the winner of this year's contest,

01:22 - who is actually with us today and probably hiding somewhere.

01:26 - I lost her.

01:28 - Maya Reece from Central

01:30 - Columbia School District was this year's winner.

01:33 - Thank you, Maya and your parents, for joining us today

01:37 - and for reminding us that we really all do matter.

01:42 - Today is about honoring survivors,

01:45 - remembering those we have lost to suicide, and, crucially,

01:50 - talking about the resources available to help those in crisis.

01:55 - We're also here to talk about what the Shapiro administration is doing to

01:59 - help those with mental health needs and to prevent suicide in Pennsylvania.

02:04 - Thoughts of suicide, self-harm and behavioral health

02:09 - challenges are more common than many people realize.

02:13 - They can happen to an individual of any background

02:16 - or social identity, in any zip code and any income level.

02:21 - And that is why the Shapiro administration is proud to highlight the suicide

02:27 - prevention plan for Pennsylvania, called A Culture of Support and Action.

02:33 - This plan is a collaboration among more than a dozen state agencies

02:37 - and the governor's affinity commissions, many of which are here today.

02:43 - The Suicide

02:43 - Prevention Plan for Pennsylvania outlines shared goals,

02:48 - provides resources for those seeking help with a mental

02:51 - or behavioral health crisis, and highlights Pennsylvania's alignment

02:56 - with the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.

03:00 - Each agency has its own goals and action items within that plan,

03:04 - and we're all aligned around three key areas

03:08 - to help reduce suicide in Pennsylvania.

03:12 - Those areas are improving access

03:15 - to and use of suicide data,

03:18 - including and especially for populations that increased risk.

03:23 - Improving partnerships between state agencies

03:26 - and other entities engaged in suicide prevention efforts

03:30 - at the state and local levels, and increasing efforts to collaborate

03:35 - around suicide risk and protective factors

03:38 - as part of upstream suicide prevention.

03:43 - We know that by working together across state and local agencies

03:47 - and with community organizations, we can save lives.

03:52 - We can reduce stigma around feelings of self-harm

03:56 - and suicide, and around seeking help for mental health issues.

04:01 - We can support our loved ones, out

04:03 - friends and our communities.

04:06 - I'd like to share just a few examples of work happening from the state plan

04:11 - that agencies are doing to support Pennsylvanians that they serve.

04:16 - The Department of Aging is working to expand its Healthy Ideas

04:20 - program statewide.

04:22 - This evidence based depression screening and intervention program

04:26 - uses a tool to determine if those who are screened

04:30 - need to be referred for support to a nurse or a case manager

04:34 - at a local area agency on aging.

04:37 - PennDOT is partnering with the Pennsylvania

04:40 - Transit Association to develop suicide prevention posters

04:44 - for transit agencies to display on busses, shelters, and more.

04:51 - The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is hosting

04:54 - five regional events as part of its plan

04:58 - Pause Protect Suicide Prevention initiative

05:02 - to raise awareness and share prevention resources and information, including gun

05:08 - safety, planning and community connections.

05:12 - In addition to the statewide suicide prevention plan

05:15 - that shows the dedication of the Shapiro administration to this topic.

05:19 - Governor Shapiro's 2627 state budget has increased

05:24 - funding for behavioral health services across the Commonwealth.

05:28 - The budget includes $10 million in

05:31 - first ever dedicated state funding for 988,

05:35 - which will allow Pennsylvania to enhance its crisis intervention services,

05:40 - expand mental health resources, and maintain caring,

05:45 - professional, round the clock staffing.

05:48 - The budget also includes a $5 million investment

05:52 - to maintain mental health crisis, walk in centers, and will prioritize

05:57 - regions with limited access to immediate in-person care.

06:01 - Strengthening collaborations across hospitals,

06:05 - community providers, and local responders.

06:09 - This funding will allow us to continue to be there for Pennsylvanians

06:13 - experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis when they need it most.

06:19 - As part of our event today, you will hear directly from people

06:22 - who are suicide prevention advocates and who work in this space

06:26 - to care for their peers and communities.

06:30 - There is strength in sharing, and we are deeply grateful to have individuals

06:35 - here today who are willing to talk about their personal experiences.

06:39 - Help raise awareness and honor those lost to suicide.

06:45 - Their stories are just a few of the reasons why

06:48 - we are here, and why we must continue this work,

06:52 - and these conversations around suicide prevention.

06:55 - And now to share a little bit more about how the General Assembly is helping

07:00 - to raise awareness of suicide prevention efforts and offer

07:03 - support to those at risk.

07:05 - Please join me in welcoming Senator James Malone.

07:21 - The Mike's were not for me personally.

07:24 - Just for the record.

07:28 - Good morning, everybody.

07:29 - Thanks for joining us today.

07:32 - As you've heard, we are here to recognize

07:35 - September as Suicide Prevention Month.

07:39 - We do this because one death by suicide

07:42 - in Pennsylvania is one too many.

07:46 - Our hope is to raise awareness on the importance

07:49 - of open conversations about mental health and suicide.

07:54 - Together, we can reduce the stigma and create a space where conversations

07:59 - about mental health and suicide and making these connections

08:04 - can and will save lives.

08:08 - I'd like to begin first

08:10 - also by thanking Pennsylvania's DHS Secretary Valerie

08:14 - Kush and Deputy Secretary Jen Smith for inviting me here today.

08:20 - Their team and Governor Shapiro's work

08:24 - tirelessly to ensure that our neighbors from all walks of life

08:29 - have the support that they need to thrive.

08:34 - I'm pleased they clearly understand the importance of addressing this issue.

08:40 - Suicide is a major public health concern in Pennsylvania, according to the CDC.

08:45 - We lost 1845 of our neighbors

08:50 - in this commonwealth to suicide in 2024.

08:55 - Additionally, approximately 1 in 5 U.S.

08:59 - adults experience mental illness each year.

09:02 - And we do know that there's a strong correlation.

09:07 - This is all why I've

09:09 - partnered with

09:10 - Senator Tina Tartaglia to introduce a resolution

09:14 - in the Pennsylvania Senate recognizing September as Suicide Prevention Month.

09:21 - Sometimes the difference between life and death

09:24 - for someone who is struggling can be a simple conversation.

09:29 - It can be a friend or neighbor reaching out to check in.

09:34 - Research shows that open discussion about mental

09:37 - health can lower the risk of death by suicide.

09:42 - We want to normalize having these discussions more often.

09:47 - Sometimes social stigma or fear can get in the way

09:51 - of potentially life saving conversations,

09:55 - especially, unfortunately, among men.

09:58 - Men have half the population, but nearly 80% of all suicide deaths.

10:03 - I personally blame that on the old machismo, but,

10:07 - you know, that's my own ideas.

10:09 - We are here to remind folks

10:12 - how important it is to overcome stigma and open space

10:17 - for honest, meaningful discussions about mental health and suicide.

10:22 - Maybe that means taking the time to call your buddy

10:25 - or your family member that you haven't spoken to in a while.

10:29 - Ask them how they're doing.

10:32 - We know

10:33 - loneliness and suicide are spiking in our older populations as well.

10:40 - Maybe today is a reminder

10:42 - to reach out to an older friend or an aging relative.

10:47 - Remember, if you or someone you know is in crisis

10:51 - or struggling with thoughts of suicide, there are resources to help.

10:56 - You can reach out to the Suicide in Crisis Lifeline

11:00 - by calling or texting 988.

11:03 - You can also chat via 908 lifeline.

11:08 - These programs are free, confidential

11:10 - and available 24 over seven.

11:13 - As someone who has felt the impact of suicide

11:16 - in my own family, I am proud to have voted

11:20 - to put $10 million towards

11:24 - the 988 network in this year's budget.

11:29 - If you need help but are reluctant to ask.

11:32 - I can promise you that there is no judgment.

11:36 - 988 line is completely private.

11:40 - You don't feel able to talk with your friends

11:43 - or your family or even a neighbor.

11:46 - Start there.

11:48 - Just reach out.

11:50 - Lastly, as a gun owner and an advocate for hunters, I will acknowledge

11:55 - that firearms as the most common method used in suicides.

12:01 - Properly storing your firearms is a vital part of keeping our loved ones safe.

12:07 - I encourage everyone to purchase whatever equipment they need

12:11 - to safely store their firearms and keep their family safe.

12:16 - This September, let's all remember to be here for one another.

12:23 - Have honest conversations

12:25 - about mental health and reach out if you need help.

12:30 - Thank you again to Senator Tartaglia for

12:34 - for co-sponsoring the Suicide Prevention Month resolution

12:39 - with me, and to Secretary

12:43 - Kush and her team for working on this critical public

12:47 - health issue.

12:59 - We truly appreciate your work on this issue and your support

13:03 - of all Pennsylvanians who may need mental health resources and services.

13:09 - Suicide awareness and prevention

13:11 - is an issue that remains at the forefront for corrections.

13:15 - When we talk about the health and safety of our facilities,

13:19 - we recognize that suicide risk touches

13:23 - both the people in our custody and the staff who work there.

13:28 - No one is untouched by the pressures

13:31 - and challenges that exist in this environment.

13:34 - We know that incarcerated men and women often come to our system with higher

13:40 - rates of trauma, substance use disorder, and mental health challenges.

13:45 - These experiences don't start with incarceration,

13:49 - but they can certainly be impacted by it.

13:52 - National trends show rising suicide rates

13:56 - across the country, including among individuals in custody.

14:01 - And that reinforces why our work around prevention is so critical.

14:07 - At the same time, we must acknowledge

14:10 - the suicide risk that is ever present among our staff.

14:14 - Corrections professionals experience chronic stress and difficult

14:19 - working conditions that can contribute to increased vulnerability.

14:24 - National studies show that corrections officers face significantly

14:29 - higher risk of suicide compared with the general working population.

14:35 - They perform one of the toughest jobs in public service,

14:39 - and there will well-being must be treated as a priority.

14:43 - That is why suicide awareness and the constant

14:47 - work of prevention requires a united effort.

14:51 - I am proud of the partnership across the Shapiro administration

14:56 - to strengthen screening, expand staff training,

15:00 - and to improve communication around this difficult topic.

15:04 - We have taken meaningful steps from improving how we assess

15:09 - self-harm and suicide risk, to offering better resources

15:13 - and safety planning tools for individuals upon release.

15:17 - But most importantly, we are committed to doing everything

15:22 - we can to prevent suicide because even one loss is one too many.

15:29 - Together, we can build a system where people are seen

15:32 - and supported and connected to help.

15:36 - I now like to welcome someone whose team answers those calls for help.

15:41 - Shannon Ward is manager of crisis intervention at Penn State Health

15:46 - Holy Spirit Medical Center, which houses one of Pennsylvania's

15:50 - 988 centers just right across the bridge in Camp Hill.

15:55 - Shannon and her dedicated team and sir, calls from those

15:59 - seeking out or just needing someone to talk to.

16:03 - Please welcome Shannon.

16:13 - Hello, everyone.

16:15 - I just want to thank everyone for letting me be here today.

16:18 - I common

16:22 - theme that I've seen here

16:24 - is that people are saying one life that we've lost to

16:28 - suicide is one to many, which is very true.

16:31 - Most of us have been impacted by suicide.

16:33 - We either have struggle with suicidal thoughts.

16:36 - We know somebody that has died by suicide or lives

16:39 - with suicidal thoughts on the daily or frequently.

16:42 - I want to start by saying a quote that really hits home for our 98 workers.

16:48 - To make a difference in someone's life.

16:50 - You have to be brilliant.

16:51 - You don't have to be brilliant, rich, beautiful or perfect.

16:55 - You just have to care.

16:56 - Mandy Hale reason.

16:58 - People that do that, do this job or staff are from this area.

17:03 - They've chosen to come back to this area after going to school.

17:06 - They choose the people of this community.

17:09 - They want to help the community, and they continue to choose

17:12 - to help the people of this community by answering those phone calls.

17:15 - They care

17:16 - and they want to support those living with the difficulties of everyday life.

17:20 - We all know someone who has died by suicide or attempted suicide

17:24 - or lives with those suicidal thoughts.

17:26 - And I want you to remember that because it's personal.

17:28 - It's not just a job, it's personal.

17:31 - In 2024, the CDC estimated that about 14.3

17:35 - million US adults seriously thought about attempting suicide in 2023.

17:39 - And in addition, 20.4% of high school students.

17:44 - Think about that.

17:45 - We all know somebody of those ages or grades or anything of that nature.

17:50 - 908 is free and gives everyone the opportunity to contact someone,

17:54 - especially if they do not have anyone in our rural communities.

17:58 - I just want to point them out. A lot of people do not have anyone.

18:01 - It's hard to get anywhere that does have somebody to help them.

18:04 - 988 is that option.

18:07 - Mental health struggles can be lonely, but you're never alone with 988.

18:10 - You can contact nine, eight,

18:12 - eight from the comfort of your home, in a car, or at work whenever you

18:15 - need someone.

18:18 - At our call center, we like to say that we're family.

18:21 - We go through things together, and we work as a team

18:24 - to support each other in our community.

18:26 - The 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline makes us all a community.

18:29 - Please continue to choose each other.

18:39 - Thank you

18:40 - to both Secretary Harry and Shannon.

18:43 - Staff at the 988 call centers are really vital

18:47 - to making sure that Pennsylvanians have someone to call

18:50 - and someone to listen when they're in crisis.

18:53 - The work that you and your teams do is is truly invaluable.

18:58 - And on behalf of the Shapiro administration, I extend

19:01 - my gratefulness to you.

19:04 - I'd now like to welcome Marissa Vasser.

19:07 - Marissa is the founder and president of the Jana Marie Foundation,

19:12 - a nonprofit that she established in 2012 to harness

19:17 - the power of creative expression and meaningful dialog to foster connection

19:22 - and promote mental well-being among youth and their communities.

19:27 - Inspired by the life and memory of her sister

19:31 - Jana, the Siri, who died by suicide in 2011.

19:36 - Marissa has dedicated her career to helping young people

19:40 - navigate life's challenges while educating families, educators

19:45 - and community members about mental and emotional health.

19:50 - Marissa.

19:55 - Good morning, and thank you for having me here today to recognize

19:59 - Suicide Prevention Month and to share a little bit of my story.

20:03 - On June 18th, 2011, my life changed forever.

20:07 - That was the day that my older sister Jana died by suicide.

20:11 - She had traveled a difficult road, a road that eventually led her into a place

20:16 - so dark that in that moment she could no longer see a way out.

20:20 - She felt desperate, hopeless, and was an immense emotional pain.

20:26 - But Jana was so much more than the way her life ended.

20:29 - She was the girl who grew up in a loving home with parents who supported her,

20:34 - and a little sister who looked up to her and wanted to be just like her.

20:38 - She had a smile that could light up a room.

20:42 - She made friends easily and had an incredible ability to make people feel included.

20:48 - She was creative.

20:50 - She wrote poetry, made pottery, created jewelry, and sketched.

20:56 - She could take the thoughts

20:57 - and feelings inside of her and turn them into something beautiful.

21:01 - And she had an incredible heart for helping others.

21:04 - She worked with young people who were struggling,

21:07 - and used her own experiences to help them find their way.

21:11 - From the outside looking in, Jeanna seem to have it all.

21:15 - But what if I told you she didn't?

21:17 - What if I told you?

21:18 - And that smile was someone who was struggling.

21:21 - Someone who was afraid that

21:22 - if people saw the real her, they might viewer differently.

21:26 - You see, Jana wore many mass and honestly, so many of us do.

21:32 - We put on a smile and say, I'm fine.

21:35 - We go to work.

21:36 - We go to school.

21:37 - We show up for our families.

21:39 - And sometimes underneath it all, we are struggling.

21:42 - When I was growing up, mental health wasn't something

21:45 - that was talked about openly.

21:46 - And when we don't talk about it,

21:48 - silence fills the space and silence can lead to shame,

21:52 - which can become isolation, and isolation can make a dark place feel darker.

21:58 - There were times when Jana told us she didn't want to be alive,

22:02 - but there were also times where she held on.

22:05 - She would often find people who would allow her

22:08 - strip away the mass and talk openly.

22:11 - She would find opportunities for creative expression and she would find hope.

22:16 - When you lose someone to suicide, you are left with questions.

22:20 - What did we miss?

22:22 - What could we have done?

22:23 - What should we have said?

22:25 - But eventually I realized something.

22:28 - I could spend the rest of my life asking what we could have done differently.

22:32 - Or I could ask, what can we do differently now?

22:35 - While I cannot change Jana's story, I can change the stories that come after.

22:40 - That is why Jana Marie Foundation exists.

22:44 - We were founded out of grief, but we were built on hope.

22:47 - Today, we harness the power of creative expression and dialog to spark

22:52 - conversations, build connections, and promote mental health and well-being,

22:56 - especially among young people and their communities.

22:59 - We work to make young people feel seen, heard, and valued

23:03 - for the unique individuals they are, and we take

23:07 - proactive steps to build protective factors and resiliency.

23:11 - And we work to spread evidence based education.

23:15 - September gives us the opportunity to talk about suicide prevention,

23:19 - and more importantly, it gives us the opportunity

23:21 - to talk about hope before someone reaches hopelessness.

23:25 - While it is important.

23:27 - I want us to challenge.

23:29 - I want to challenge us.

23:30 - Don't let September be the only time we talk about suicide.

23:35 - People don't struggle according to a calendar.

23:38 - They struggle on Tuesdays.

23:39 - They struggle in November.

23:41 - They struggle when everyone else seems happy.

23:44 - And sometimes they struggle when nobody else is looking.

23:48 - Suicide prevention has to be more than a month.

23:51 - It has to become part of who we are.

23:53 - And you don't have to be a mental health professional to make a difference.

23:57 - You don't need the perfect words.

23:59 - You just have to be willing to show up, to listen, to ask, to stay.

24:05 - And when you see someone struggling, don't walk away.

24:08 - Walk toward them because you never know the impact of one conversation.

24:13 - We may never know whether the call

24:15 - we almost didn't make was the one that someone desperately needed.

24:19 - We may never know

24:20 - whether simply asking I'm glad or simply saying I'm glad you're here.

24:24 - Change someone's life and we don't need to know.

24:27 - We just need to be willing to try.

24:30 - Jana's life ended far too soon, but her story did not end there.

24:34 - It became a ripple.

24:36 - A ripple that became the Jana Murray Foundation.

24:39 - A ripple that continues every time a young person finds their voice.

24:43 - Every time someone asks for help, every time

24:47 - someone chooses connection instead of isolation.

24:50 - And every time someone chooses hope.

24:52 - And today I'm asking you to become part of that ripple.

24:56 - Reach out.

24:57 - Start the conversation.

24:58 - Listen. Notice. Choose kindness.

25:02 - Together we can break the silence.

25:04 - And we can remind someone they matter.

25:06 - They belong and they are not alone.

25:09 - We can open minds and we can save lives.

25:12 - And when we create ripples of hope that reach further than we will ever know.

25:17 - Thank you.

25:27 - Marissa, for

25:28 - being here and for sharing your story with us.

25:32 - The the work that the Jana Marie Foundation is doing is truly remarkable

25:36 - and really making a difference in the lives of young people across Pennsylvania.

25:41 - We really appreciate you being here.

25:42 - Also want to thank my agency colleagues and other advocates,

25:46 - supporters, Senator, representative, for being here today

25:49 - and really everybody in this room, because the work we do matters.

25:54 - People need to feel like they can reach out and receive help

25:58 - without stigma or worry about cost.

26:02 - Affordable access to mental health and substance use disorder

26:06 - care is essential in the fight to prevent suicides.

26:10 - As a young person in front of me, to paraphrase

26:13 - their shirt, mental health can't and shouldn't have to wait.

26:17 - At the Pennsylvania Insurance Department, we've prioritized ensuring

26:22 - that insurance companies are covering mental health and substance

26:26 - use disorder benefits in parity with physical benefits.

26:30 - That means there should be no additional barriers or limitations

26:35 - to seeking mental health and substance use disorder treatment or coverage.

26:39 - So if you hear, see, or experience issues

26:43 - accessing a mental health or substance use disorder provider,

26:46 - or if you're hearing that health insurers are making it difficult to access

26:51 - services, medications or treatments, please say something.

26:56 - You can reach out to us at the department by visiting.

27:01 - Consumer.

27:02 - I'd now like to introduce Mickey Dean.

27:06 - McKay is a senior at Duquesne majoring in psychology,

27:10 - and she's an intern at Nami Keystone, Pennsylvania.

27:13 - She has helped establish and lead Voices Igniting Black Empowerment,

27:17 - also known as Vibe, a youth coalition focused on raising awareness

27:22 - about mental health and suicide prevention among black youth across Pennsylvania.

27:27 - Through her work with vibe,

27:29 - McKay has become a passionate advocate for young people.

27:33 - Representing youth voices at conferences, community

27:36 - events, and panel discussions throughout Pittsburgh.

27:39 - So please help me in welcoming McKay.

27:51 - Hi, my name is McKay Dean.

27:53 - I'm currently a student at Duquesne University.

27:54 - Like you just said, my moral support here is Quintin Shaw.

27:57 - He's a student at Pitt

27:58 - University as well, and we're honored to be standing in front of you guys today.

28:02 - The message I have for you guys will focus on three key things

28:05 - why we're here advocating for suicide awareness and prevention,

28:09 - why this is personal to me, and finally, what me and my peers are doing about it.

28:13 - And now let's talk about why we're here.

28:15 - When we talk

28:16 - about suicide awareness and prevention, we are not talking about mere statistics.

28:19 - We are talking about young people who look like myself and Quentin.

28:23 - We are talking about young.

28:25 - I'm sorry.

28:25 - We are talking about your children,

28:26 - your nieces and nephews, our friends and members of our community.

28:30 - We're talking about creating safer environments

28:32 - where young people

28:33 - are comfortable voicing their struggles before they reach a point of crisis.

28:36 - And today,

28:37 - I'm honored to have this opportunity to represent youth across Pennsylvania.

28:43 - This work resonates with me on numerous levels.

28:45 - When I was asked to think about

28:46 - my lived experience, I instantly thought about my third grade self

28:51 - a little girl who thought maybe it would be better if she wasn't here.

28:55 - Those struggles simply didn't disappear.

28:56 - When I got older, they showed up differently in high school,

28:59 - their struggles with self-image and other things

29:01 - I didn't know how to put into words, but my lived experience isn't only my own.

29:06 - It's realizing your friend is self-harming and not knowing what to do.

29:09 - It's having someone close to you attempt suicide and not knowing how to handle it.

29:13 - It's watching people you love struggle

29:16 - while you're still trying to understand your own struggles.

29:18 - But my lived experience also doesn't end with the bad things that have happened

29:22 - through being a part of Nami Keystone, PA and meeting organizations and advocates

29:26 - doing this work.

29:27 - I've learned that I'm not the only person struggling.

29:29 - I've learned that there is power

29:30 - in being able to turn to my peers and say, I'm going through this, too,

29:34 - and every young person deserves that space.

29:37 - Now, finally, let's talk about what we're doing about it.

29:40 - Through Nami, Keystone, PA, in partnership with

29:43 - my peers and I were given an opportunity to create something specifically for black

29:46 - youths struggling with their mental health.

29:48 - Through this vibe, which stands for Voices Igniting Black Empowerment was created.

29:52 - The goal of Vibe is to create safe spaces where black youth can have

29:56 - honest conversations about mental health, learn from one another, and know

30:00 - that asking for help is not something they have to be ashamed of.

30:03 - And one of the greatest things I've learned from vibe has been

30:06 - that young people don't just need adults speaking for us,

30:09 - we need opportunities to speak for ourselves.

30:12 - I've learned from my peers that our experiences may look different,

30:15 - but so many of the feelings underneath them are shared.

30:18 - I've learned how powerful it can be when one young person is vulnerable

30:21 - enough to speak, because sometimes I give someone else permission to speak as well.

30:26 - So when we talk about suicide prevention today,

30:28 - I hope we remember that behind every number,

30:30 - as a young person with a story, prevention means making sure they have

30:33 - the resources, community and safe spaces before they reach their breaking point.

30:38 - I'm grateful to be standing here today

30:39 - as someone who once didn't know if she wanted to be here,

30:41 - and now gets to use her voice to advocate for young people across Pennsylvania.

30:45 - And I hope we continue creating spaces where every young person knows

30:48 - that their voice, their story, and most importantly, their life matters.

30:51 - Thank you.

30:55 - Thank you.

30:55 - Thank.

31:05 - Thank you.

31:05 - McKay.

31:06 - We are so pleased to have such a beautiful young woman here,

31:11 - standing boldly in front of you, talking about her

31:14 - story, her journey, and how she's giving back to others.

31:18 - So thank you. Thank you so much.

31:22 - It's clear McKay has become

31:25 - a pretty passionate advocate for young people.

31:28 - Representing youth voices at conferences, community events, panel discussions.

31:33 - And we're just really pleased to have her here today and to have her

31:38 - part of the state of Pennsylvania and the voices of our young people.

31:43 - Last but certainly not least, standing behind me,

31:47 - I am really pleased to welcome Representative Greg Scott to the podium.

31:52 - Wonderful to have you here today, sir.

31:55 - Sorry I'm late.

31:57 - I'm good.

32:01 - Well, good.

32:01 - After. No. Good morning.

32:04 - Good morning. First what?

32:07 - Let's give one more round of applause for all of our speakers today.

32:13 - I want to certainly acknowledge

32:17 - all of my warriors in the struggle in this moment,

32:21 - and definitely proud of the work that the Shapiro administration

32:25 - with all of his cabinet secretaries, including Commissioner Humphreys,

32:28 - who's making sure that people get quality help and that there's no barrier.

32:33 - And that's incredibly important, especially in communities that I represent

32:36 - where I come from.

32:37 - And thank you to Secretary Smith for all the work that you all are doing.

32:42 - This moment has certainly been a beacon of hope, a moment of light,

32:47 - and this profound sense of darkness

32:50 - that I have wandered over these last few months.

32:54 - And what this moment teaches me in this moment

32:58 - has I reflect, and I stand here thinking about it

33:03 - is gratitude.

33:04 - Gratitude because I

33:07 - feel like I'm in a space where people see me,

33:11 - where they understand my struggle.

33:16 - And I'm grateful to have advocates, like all of you,

33:18 - speaking up for people all across this Commonwealth.

33:21 - In 2024, 1845 people,

33:27 - 1845 Pennsylvanians

33:32 - died by suicide.

33:35 - It's about five people every day.

33:38 - And nationally, it's more than 130 people a day.

33:43 - But I want us to remember something

33:47 - that those are just not just numbers.

33:51 - Those are people.

33:54 - Their fathers, their mothers,

33:58 - brothers, sisters, sons,

34:01 - daughters, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors and friends.

34:05 - And for me, this issue isn't just about statistics,

34:10 - because this year I joined a club that every day I thought about

34:15 - how can I revoke my membership.

34:19 - On February 10th

34:20 - of this year, I found my brother Larry

34:25 - dead by suicide.

34:29 - And today is the first time

34:30 - that I've shared this story publicly,

34:34 - and I'm sharing it for one reason.

34:38 - If telling my story helps one person

34:43 - reach out for help, then it's worth it.

34:48 - If it helps one person struggling

34:50 - to understand that they are not alone.

34:54 - It is worth it

34:57 - if it helps a survivor of suicide loss.

35:01 - Know that they don't have to be ashamed

35:03 - of what happened to their loved one.

35:06 - Then it is worth it.

35:09 - And if it helps one family recognize

35:14 - that someone they love is struggling

35:17 - and encourages them to say, I'm here,

35:21 - let's get you some help, it is worth it.

35:25 - That's why the work we are doing here today matters.

35:29 - And to be honest, the work that you were all doing

35:32 - prior to me getting into this space matters.

35:36 - I'm proud to

35:37 - stand here with all of you and the Shapiro administration, because they recognize

35:43 - that suicide prevention isn't just contained to September.

35:47 - They recognize that it has to be a priority.

35:51 - And in the recent state budget that Senator Malone and I

35:54 - were happy to vote yes for.

35:58 - We had the first ever dedicated money's

36:02 - going towards that $10 million towards nine, eight, eight

36:07 - to strengthen the network so that people can reach

36:11 - a caring professional when they need help.

36:13 - And you're right, we should celebrate that.

36:14 - We can clap for that.

36:17 - We don't agree on much in this building.

36:22 - We also allocated

36:23 - $5 million to crisis walk in centers.

36:27 - Those are real resources, real investments,

36:32 - and they can save real lives.

36:36 - But we're not finished.

36:38 - We also have to ask whether the strategies we have already developed working, and

36:45 - whether we're collecting the information we need to understand our gaps.

36:48 - That's why we're working closely together in a bipartisan fashion by Cameron

36:52 - Fashion with the Shapiro administration, to figure out how we can tackle this

36:56 - a little bit more, remove more barriers, and we have to pay particular attention.

37:00 - And I'm Micah McKay.

37:03 - McKay. McKay. Really bad with names.

37:06 - McKay lifted up something we have a significant challenge

37:10 - with young African Americans, especially young black men

37:15 - who are

37:16 - experiencing suicide at alarming rates.

37:19 - And we cannot accept that, and we have not accepted that.

37:22 - We understand that we have to reach people before

37:26 - they reach a point of no return.

37:29 - So today I want to say to

37:31 - anyone that is struggling.

37:35 - You are not a burden.

37:39 - You're not alone.

37:41 - Your life matters.

37:45 - No one can replace you.

37:47 - And I know that in this moment it may seem like the chaos all around

37:53 - and the the worry and the grief that's on your shoulders is insurmountable.

37:58 - But we've got people that are ready to listen.

38:02 - Listen without shame.

38:04 - Without guilt.

38:06 - All we need you to do is give us a shot.

38:09 - Pick up the phone and call 988.

38:13 - Text 741741.

38:16 - Home. Visit 988 lifeline or

38:21 - give us 24 hours.

38:23 - Give us five minutes of your time.

38:26 - You cannot be replaced.

38:28 - And we need you.

38:31 - And to every family that is also on the suicide.

38:34 - You're not alone either.

38:36 - There are some groups, like the ones that are at my family,

38:39 - up in their arms to help us process.

38:43 - This would seem to be insurmountable loss.

38:46 - And we've got folks all throughout the Commonwealth in each county

38:51 - that has a suicide prevention task force, and they've got grief groups

38:56 - and resources and other resources that you and your family

38:59 - can access, lower free cost or no cost.

39:02 - And I'll be the first to admit we've got a lot of work to do.

39:06 - But all of us are standing here collectively with one simple goal

39:11 - to help people and to save lives.

39:15 - And I strongly believe that we're not finished.

39:18 - The work that you're seeing done with the Shapiro

39:21 - ministration so far.

39:24 - This isn't a ceiling to our work.

39:27 - This is the floor.

39:29 - We've got a lot more to do,

39:31 - and I'm happy to be working with all of you to get that done.

39:34 - Thank you all.

39:35 - God bless and let's get to work.

39:44 - Thank you.

39:44 - Representative.

39:45 - I'd like to just give one more round of applause for the brave individuals

39:50 - who have shared about their personal losses

39:54 - and struggles today, because that that really is why we're here.

39:58 - So one more.

39:58 - Thank you.

40:08 - Sharing their personal stories.

40:09 - We are hopeful that that is helping families, friends,

40:15 - neighbors and communities know that help and support is available.

40:20 - And if someone is thinking about suicide or just needs someone to talk

40:25 - to, please, please call 988 please.

40:30 - So as I wrap up today, I'll just leave a few reminders

40:33 - that you've probably already heard, but it's always worth reinforcing.

40:38 - Check on your loved ones.

40:40 - Friends, neighbors, and colleagues.

40:43 - Regularly ask how they're doing and listen

40:47 - non-judgmental to their answer.

40:51 - Remind them that you care that

40:54 - you're there for them and that they're important to you.

40:58 - They may not need help right now, but you never know

41:02 - when those reminders may be exactly what they needed.

41:06 - A common fear is that asking someone if they're thinking about suicide

41:11 - makes them more likely to die by suicide,

41:14 - but in fact, it has the opposite effect.

41:18 - Talking to someone honestly about how they're feeling

41:22 - could truly save their life.

41:25 - You can offer to call or text 988 right alongside the person who's struggling,

41:31 - so that they feel they have a support team.

41:34 - Save the number in your phone just in case you need it.

41:37 - If you are in crisis or know someone who is.

41:41 - Just remember 9883

41:46 - simple digits and you'll get no judgment.

41:49 - Just help.

41:51 - Thank you so much for joining us today, and I'll offer up

41:55 - if there are any questions for us, for any of our speakers today.

42:03 - All right.

42:03 - Thank you so much.

42:04 - Enjoy the rest of your day.