West Orange Council Member Tammy Williams Reads Suicide Prevention Month Proclamation & Speaks About Intervention

WEST ORANGE, NJ — During the September 24 town council meeting, Council Member Tammy Williams read West Orange’s Suicide Prevention Month proclamation and spoke about the organization she founded called West Orange (STOP) Suicide Advocacy Coalition ( WOSAC ). WOSAC holds programs at the high school .

Williams shared why she has a personal mission to prevent suicides. “If you do not know my story, I don't want to belabor this evening with the details, but it is a family crisis that occurred to my younger sister. Even though this topic seems very dark, [we need to] bring awareness, because this is a preventable disease if we know the warning signs of suicide.”

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She read:

WHEREAS, the month of September is National Suicide Prevention Month. It is a time for mental health advocates, prevention organizations and community members to unite to raise awareness of suicide prevention. We can all help to prevent suicide: and

WHEREAS, in the United States, there is one death every 11 minutes due to suicide, and it’s the second leading cause of death among 10 to 24 year-olds; and

WHEREAS, suicide prevention is a public health issue that requires the combined efforts of individuals, families, friends, educators, faith communities, mental health professionals and government agencies working together to prevent this tragedy; and

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WHEREAS, by offering compassion, reducing stigma around mental health and supporting the development of effective treatment options, we can work together to create a world where suicide is no longer a leading cause of death; and

WHEREAS, we encourage all residents to take time to understand mental health through education and recognize that we need to take care of our mental health while we take care of each other; and

WHEREAS, if you or someone you know is in a crisis, please contact 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, where you can connect with a counselor. 988 is confidential, free and available 24/7/365. Call or text 988; now.

THEREFORE, be it resolved that Mayor Susan McCartney, Mayor of West Orange and the West Orange Township Council, do hereby proclaim September 2024 as Suicide Prevention Month, and encourage all citizens to participate in activities and initiatives that promote mental health and well-being and to work together to prevent suicide in our community.

Williams added, “In addition to our Suicide Prevention proclamation, I host annually [since 2019, before COVID], the West Orange Suicide Advocacy Coalition. I have to give a tremendous amount of honor and credit to the woman who was the catalyst behind this mission, and that was Ms. Lauren Massader. Unfortunately, her son, Zach , had succumbed to death by suicide in their home. She is no longer with us. She also took her life last year after four or five very serious attempts.

William continued to say that it’s imperative that people do not suffer in silence or alone. “I'm so very pleased and proud that our department, our township, took on a different approach to mental health and mental wellness by being the first Township police department to have a program where mental health professionals rode along with our police officers.”

She mentioned that every suicide in West Orange impacts her deeply because she lost her sister. She wanted to create a way for the community to increase awareness and inform people that there’s help available, so that they don’t have to suffer alone. “I would like this campaign to begin in September and continue for a year in the hopes that within this 12 month period we can eliminate suicides in our municipality,” William shared.

The foundation is launching the Zero Suicide campaign from September 2024 to September 2025 and engaging all local resources, including the West Orange Police Department, township health department, schools, residents and community organizations. “We will work together to create a comprehensive, year-long initiative that supports mental health and suicide prevention. [I am] asking each of us, whether you are an adult, parent, township employee or student in our schools, in West Orange. We have created a wellness pledge, and I'm going to just read the pledge for our adults and parents.”

The pledge:

1. I pledge to prioritize mental health for myself, my family and those around me.

2. I commit to understanding my emotions. I will take time to reflect on my mental and emotional well being and seek out when needed. Talking openly, I will communicate honestly with family, friends and loved ones about how I'm feeling, and encourage them to do the same.

3. Seeking professional support if I or someone close to me is struggling with mental health challenges. I will seek the necessary resources and support.

4. Checking in on loved ones, I will be mindful of changes in behavior, mood or actions in my family and friends, and out for support by asking if they are okay.

5. We will create a supportive environment. You will foster a home and community where mental health is prioritized and asking for help is encouraged without stigma. Together, we can protect the well being of ourselves and our loved ones, helping to prevent suicide and build a healthier community

She concluded, “I [urge] each of us, whether you be again, a child, an adult or a township employee, to take this pledge. And let's not be afraid of erasing the stigma about talking about mental health and wellness, because our mental health is health.”

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