Why Levack & 104.5 The Team Support the Capital Region Walk for R.I.T.A.

By now you might have heard that I am supporting this year's Capital Region Walk for R.I.T.A. It's one of the most important things I will do all year long, and I want you to know why.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the rate of suicide is highest in middle-age white men, who accounted for almost 70% of suicide deaths in 2017.

As a man in my 40s, I feel many men like myself don't think they can ask for help.

We were raised in an era that taught us crying is weakness, and no one wants to hear about our problems – these things can reverberate in our ears while we try to navigate the tough times we face. That feeling of not being able to hurt, or to share our hurt, compounds the pain and feeds the stigma that so many ascribe to when it comes to suicide.

In order to break down these barriers, we need to further the conversation about suicide prevention. When we open ourselves up and make ourselves informed about this topic, the byproduct is that it makes us a better friend, a better spouse, a better parent. That really is the key to prevention: recognizing when yourself, or someone close to you, needs help and understanding what actions to take and what things to say in those situations.

The warning signs might sound obvious when you read them in a list, but patterns might not initially seem troublesome when revealed slowly by a friend or loved one:

• A person talks about feeling trapped or hopeless, being a burden to others or just wanting to die
• A person withdraws from activities, family and friends
• A person searches online for information about killing themselves or death
• A person gives away prized possessions
• A person calls or visits people as if they are saying goodbye
• A person exhibits aggression or fatigue
• A person increases use of alcohol or drugs
• A person who had been anxious or depressed experiences relief or sudden improvement

One of the important things I learned from partnering with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention these past few weeks is that real conversations about suicide save lives.

I'd like to think that maybe somebody listening to my show who is stuck in that old way of thinking, will see that a #RealConvo could be exactly what they need.

If you're as convinced as I am that this is an important topic, click here and sign up for my team, and walk with us in Saratoga this September. Here is the key info:

Walk Date: September 22, 2019
Walk Location: Saratoga Spa State Park Orenda Pavillion - Saratoga Springs, NY
Check-in/Registration Time: 9:00 am
Walk Begins: 10:30 am
Walk Ends: 1:00 pm

Every single person we get out there with us helps make a difference.