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By Sarah Roebuck
Editorial Staff
ROCKWALL, Texas 鈥� The loss of a loved one to death by suicide creates an enduring emptiness for those left behind. This impact is profound for anyone affected by such a tragedy, but it can be especially challenging for the families and colleagues of public safety personnel who die by suicide.
Despite efforts to 鈥渟mash the stigma鈥� of suicide in public service careers, it remains deeply rooted, . This is evident in the omission of suicide victims鈥� names from memorials and monuments, according to First H.E.L.P.
First H.E.L.P., a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing mental health stigma for first responders, aims to address this by creating a memorial monument dedicated to honoring the families, colleagues, friends and loved ones affected by first responder and veteran suicide. The organization plans to reveal the memorial at Heroes Memorial Park in Rockwall, Texas on Sept. 21 during the 5th Annual Family Weekend, co-hosted by the Motorola Solutions Foundation and the Quell Foundation, which provides an all-expense-paid retreat for these families.
鈥淭here are plenty of organizations devoted to honoring first responders and veterans killed in the line of duty 鈥� and supporting the families of those fallen 鈥� but not enough to recognize the sacrifices of those professionals who have died by suicide,鈥� says Karen Solomon, co-founder of First H.E.L.P. 鈥淥ur families 鈥� those left behind by first responder and veteran suicide 鈥� don鈥檛 get walked to the first day of school or taken to prom. They are outcasts at the onset and must fight for a small piece of honor at their funerals, even today. This monument is for them.鈥�
As of July 2024, at least 61 public safety professionals have died by suicide, according to data collected by First H.E.L.P.
Heroes Memorial Park is a multi-phased, community-driven initiative aimed at bringing awareness and hope to those affected by mental health crises, First H.E.L.P. says. The park features a Memorial and a 鈥淲all of Service,鈥� continuing the 2018 鈥淲alk the Bridge鈥� initiative on the Heroes Memorial Bridge. The first phase includes the Memorial, two benches and a pedestal recognizing the founders鈥� journey.
The monument will be a physical testament to First H.E.L.P.'s commitment to honoring those lost to suicide, ensuring they are remembered for how they lived, not how they died, the organization said.