SALISBURY, N.C. — From our schools to our state and local government, mental health is increasingly front and center.
The Rowan County Health Department patterned with the City of Salisbury to spotlight ways to prevent suicide. Both fire and police departments marked their emergency vehicles with magnets displaying the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number, 988.
This initiative is important to Salisbury Police Chief Patrick Smith, who lost his son to suicide nearly six years ago.
“So, six years ago, May 12, we found that my son had committed suicide,” Smith said.
Smith's son, Ryan, struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder after being honorably discharged from the Army in 2016.
“When he first came home, it was great. Reunited, getting back with the family, getting to see everybody,” Smith said.
Unfortunately, that didn’t last. Smith said his son rarely opened up to him out of fears of disappointing him.
“I don’t know how he felt or what he saw, but I did gradually see over two years after his return a change in his behavior to where he felt like he needed to go back. He needed to go back and serve his country, that that was his family, and I didn’t understand that as a civilian. I’m like, 'we’re your family,'” Smith said.
Smith admits to trying different approaches in getting help for his son.
“I tried being the compassionate father. [Saying] 'hey, I'm going to help you. We’re in this together. We’re going to get you the help you need.' I had to be sometimes the negotiator to where I would bargain with him and negotiate with him to get in the vehicle with me and go and take him to a counselor or someone to get help. Then sometimes I was a stern, mean, 'you are going to get help. Here’s your options. You are going with me here, you are going with me there, or I’m having someone come pick you up now,'” Smith said.
He credits his law enforcement background for how he was also to navigate his son’s passing, as well as the grieving process that followed.
“I was able to take care of my family. We’re trained to come in and control the scene, and the day that I found my son deceased, that’s the mode that I went into,” Smith said.
Ryan is now Smith's motivation to spread the message to others, that it’s OK to not be OK. Branding city vehicles with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number is just a small part Smith said he can do to reach people in need.
“Somebody might see a police car and say I wonder what that magnet says, and it says suicide crisis lifeline, all you have to do is dial 988,” Smith said.
Smith said he's thankful for the city's partnership with the Rowan County Health Department. He wants his officers to know this project has been rolled out for the community and not because of his story. He said if this changes the course for just one person battling for their life. It’s worth everything to him.
“Maybe it could have made a difference if he saw on dad’s car, his police car or on fire trucks rolling around town the awareness of it’s OK to not be OK,” Smith said.
He said Ryan was not only a son to him, but a brother, husband and father of two at the time of his passing.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number, 988.