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WISCONSIN — A Milwaukee area rabbi is behind the effort to offer free suicide prevention training to people across Wisconsin.

The “We Can Save Lives“ Tour is in memory of Milwaukee Alderman Jonathan Brostoff, who died by suicide last year. 

What You Need To Know

  • The "We Can Save Lives" Tour is in memory of Milwaukee Alderman Jonathan Brostoff, who died by suicide last year

  • The goal is to train 1,000 people across Wisconsin to be suicide-alert helpers by Sept. 10

  • The tour hopes to bring the training and awareness to the general population and also break the stigma of mental health

  • According to the state's latest Suicide Prevention Activity Report, the suicide rate among Wisconsin residents increased by 39% from 2000 to 2022

Rabbi Levi Stein with the Friendship Circle of Wisconsin was a close friend of Brostoff’s. The tour will make 41 stops, which was the alderman’s age when he died. The goal is to prepare 1,000 people to be trained suicide-alert helpers by Sept. 10, which is World Suicide Prevention Day.

“These SafeTALK trainings are really effective trainings to give you the skills to recognize when someone’s having thoughts of suicide, to learn how to ask about suicide, to become a good listener and, most importantly, connect you to the wonderful resources in our community,” Stein explained.

Through the UMatter program, the Friendship Circle of Wisconsin is also involved in teen and mom support groups as well as crisis prevention.

Watch the full interview above.

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