LETTER to the Editor

Petryk’s suicide column performative at best

To the editor, While I acknowledge State Rep. Warren Petryk’s column about suicide awareness, his statement is performative at best. Posting hotlines and having hospital beds and available mental health practitioners are important, but suicide prevention is also the following: Adequate and affordable housing, affordable health care, livable wages, community resources and equity. Here are just a few examples of what Rep. Petryk has voted Yes in terms of legislation that contributes to suicide: Repeal $300 per week federal unemployment compensation and increase work hour requirements for welfare recipients: Prevent Suicide Wisconsin states that of people who died by suicide, approximately 1 in every 5 had a reported job problem such as unemployment or insecurity; Limit supplemental nutrition assistance program purchases: While this is a facet of financial distress and welfare, SNAP participants are 1.89 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts, 2.35 times more likely to have planned suicide; Prohibit transgender athletes from participation on sports teams that do not match their birth gender: According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, LGBTQ+ youth are 8.4 times more likely to attempt suicide if in a family or community that rejects them.

To prevent suicide, we must build and fund communities to have support and resources. Failure to recognize this is negligent and counterproductive to any posting of hotline number or attaining any number mental health hospital beds.

Ann Lawton River Falls