CENTER FOR SUICIDE AWARENESS INC

The Center for Suicide Awareness is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit. The vision of the Center is compassionate, readily accessible, barrier free and sustained support for any individual or entity in need, while free of any mental health stigma. The Center brings hope, help, and resources to families and individuals through programs that reach others where they are at and when they need it most. We provide a free emotional support text line called the HOPELINE ™ that is a free 24/7 resource.

The Center is proactive in the fight against Veteran Suicides. We began the "I Challenge You to 22" program with all efforts focused on getting a Challenge Coin in the hands of a Veteran that is struggling. The Center produced the Challenge Coin reflecting messages of hope, support, and encouragement and it has the 24/7 text number of the HOPELINE ™ on it. Today, numerous police departments are equipping their Officers with the Challenge Coins to share with any Veteran they come across who is struggling. As well, we provide ASIST and SafeTalk (suicide prevention training) to Veterans and Civilians

Project Rest ™, started by the Center, reaches out to all with the powerful visual "rest" symbol in music. In music, the REST symbol is a place where the musician pauses in the middle of the song to breathe, refocus, and refresh before they continue. In life there are ups and downs, twists, and turns, and we can easily become overwhelmed. With the barrage of life issues, we face daily, take a moment, and simply rest. Project Rest ™ serves to encourage and remind us to take a moment just to pause, breathe, refocus, and refresh. In music as in life, the song continues as so must we.

The Center works with numerous law enforcement agencies to provide training and debriefing programs and they display our HOPELINE ™ number on their squad cars.

The Center produced a Telly Award winning documentary, "If You Only Knew What You Left Behind" that is used across the world for educational purposes. It is located on YouTube for free access to view.

The Center has an annual Walk for Suicide Awareness called Taking Strides to End Suicide ™ and have helped start Walks in 6 other cities across WI. We also have an annual Empty Shoe Memorial where we lay a pair of shoes on the State Capital to honor all those who died by suicide the year prior.

The Center works with Video Gaming Conference and speaks at their conventions (PAX, FlameCon) across the USA on mental health and gaming. How gaming can bring a sense of belonging which is protective factor in preventing suicide.

The Center has created a line of coping skills and resilience stickers, buttons, and coloring books to help provide methods to practice self-care and good mental wellness.
The Center for Suicide Awareness works the Farmers and created a campaign called Flloyd wants you to check your moooood. ™ In an effort that we recognize the stress and isolation that our farmers can face.

The Center for Suicide Awareness has partnered with the Tavern League to provide training to the bar staff as they are front line workers who can spot the warning signs of suicide. The Center provides coasters, magnets, and pint beer glasses with the HOPELINE ™ on them as a continual reminder of the resource and that we care and you do not need to struggle alone.

The Center for Suicide Awareness team have been trained by the FBI Academy as Master Resilience Trainers. We provide train the trainer in skill sets in how to stay resilient when stressors and arise.

The Center continues to work on the ground level and where people are at to provide services with respect and dignity.