Suicide Prevention

I just returned from Shelton, WA and the Mason County Suicide Prevention Training hosted by Sheriff Casey Salisbury. Bob Douglas, executive director and founder of the National Police Suicide Foundation was the main speaker. He gave me the opportunity to speak before a group of law enforcement officers concerning my book, Matt's Last Call: Surviving Our Protectors." It was a great opportunity for me since law enforcement, first responders and the military are my passion on the subject of suicide. It was a large group of men and women, very friendly and easy to talk with. In fact, I met a man who was stationed at Bangor Naval Base the same time as Matt. He wasn't sure if he had met Matt but thought he recognized the name. It was so fun meeting everyone. Sheriff Salisbury was like my new best friend; we had lunch together and  he kept saying how he knew he had met me but couldn't figure out where. It turned out to be the Law Enforcement Academy graduation in Burien. A friendship developed with his beautiful mother as well. I also met three officers from Salem, Oregon. Great ladies. One I had met several weeks earlier on the phone. This training was to teach this law enforcement  officers how to recognize those contemplating suicide and to help them. It was pro-active training about early warning signs, how to communicate with a suicidal officer, and the issues and responsibilities of officers and agencies when a suicide occurs.Of course, my area was as a survivor and how to break the Blue Wall of Silence. As a survivor I do not want anyone to go through what I live on a daily basis. Suicide affects so many people who are left behind: mother, father, siblings, nieces, nephews, grandparents, law enforcement families, military families, church family, friends and the list goes on and on........We all need to work together to stop suicide and help one another.