By Stephanie Irvine
September 1 marked the beginning of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and two area communities, Manhattan and Manteno, are doing their best to support the cause and raise awareness in their towns about mental health and suicide. Both small communities, with official populations of just under 10,000 each, have experienced remarkable suicide and mental health crises requiring an EMS response.
The data is eye-opening. It shows a significant impact on these small towns and demonstrates the need for resources, awareness, and prevention efforts.
Since January 2023, Manhattan alone has lost five people to suicide. In the same period in Manteno, two people died by suicide. In just over 18 months, seven lives were cut short, mourned, and lost, forever altering the world around them.
During the same time period, Manhattan reported 20 documented suicide threats or attempts made; meanwhile, Manteno experienced 49 mental health calls for service. The numbers show neither Manhattan nor Manteno are immune to mental health issues.
Suicide is a nationwide crisis; it’s the 11th leading cause of death in the United States. It is the second leading cause of death for individuals aged 10-to-34, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the CDC.
Manhattan Efforts
In a show of support for those who have lost someone to suicide and to help spark local awareness, community members around Manhattan tie teal and purple ribbons, the official colors of Suicide Prevention Awareness, around trees and light posts around town. The effort began in 2020, shortly after a local 15-year-old, Jackson Lewis, lost his life to suicide.
“[The ribbons] just started after Jackson passed away. He died in June, and then friends of ours started tying purple and teal ribbons on trees after he passed away. I just kind of continued that every September for suicide awareness,” Shelly Lewis, Jackson’s mother, explained.
Lewis has a box of pre-cut teal and purple ribbons on her front porch, available for neighbors to take and display. She said anyone, from homeowners to businesses, can display the ribbons. Lewis explained plastic disposable tablecloths work great as ribbons on the trees, as they can be cut into strips of various lengths and can handle rain without falling apart.
“This community has been wonderful, so supportive. So many people reached out after we lost Jackson; it really is heartwarming. I continue to have that support. Four years have passed. People still come out, get the ribbons, and put the ribbons on trees. Some of the businesses in town participate, as well, like Gallagher’s, Midtown, and Kirby’s Bakery,” Lewis continued.
The effort has been noticeable, as community members unfamiliar with Lewis’s story and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month inquired on the Facebook community group “Manhappenins” as to why ribbons were displayed.
Additionally, to help promote suicide prevention awareness, Mayor Mike Adrieansen read a formal proclamation and declared September National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in the Village of Manhattan.
The efforts to raise awareness locally don’t stop there. Lewis explained one of her son’s good friends, Emmett Thompson, had proposed establishing a foundation in Jackson’s honor, along with a 5K now named the “Jog for Jackson,” held annually on the first Saturday of August.
“Last November, we started the Jackson Lewis Memorial Foundation, and we focus on awareness, education, and then, hopefully, someday research would be a piece of that as well,” Lewis explained.
Proceeds from the Jog for Jackson benefit the foundation, which offers scholarships to local students each year. Lewis also explained Manhattan’s Midtown Bar and Grill donates a portion of food and drink proceeds to the foundation each September. More information on the foundation can be found at www.thelewisfoundation.net.
Manteno Efforts
In Manteno on September 1, resident Jake Smith made his annual effort to complete a 30-mile walk around Manteno to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention. He began the effort by himself in 2020, which has grown yearly since then.
“It really hits home to me because I could’ve been one of those names. I felt inclined to step up to the plate, share my story, and start to spread awareness for something that’s ravaging our community. I just felt like I needed to do something, even if I walked the town myself,” Smith said of why he chose to raise awareness for suicide prevention and mental health.
This year, Smith was joined by about 16 residents and neighbors at various times during the 30-mile feat. During his walk, he carries a large flag with a teal and purple ribbon denoting suicide prevention awareness. The walk, both a physical and mental feat, pushes boundaries. Though Smith and neighbors who joined the walk haven’t always been able to complete the 30-mile feat, the attempt is always made.
“I prepared for this and waited for this day since the last time I tried to walk 30 miles and fell short. I look back at those days at how much I’ve grown over that time, physically and psychologically. A lot of it is psychological. Your body wants to give up, but you just have to tell yourself that you’re so close,” Smith said of the effort the 30-mile walk takes.
This year, Smith and friend Shaun Brav made it the full 30 miles together. The walk began at about 7:30 a.m. and concluded by 8:15 p.m.
Brav and another friend, Angelina Urban, have joined Smith annually since 2021, and Smith appreciates their support in joining him each year. Smith has documented his efforts on Facebook. The walk also serves as a fundraiser for mental health resources in the area through separate GoFundMe fundraisers.
This year, funds raised from his walk will go to the Sam Myers Foundation, Clove Alliance, Iroquois Mental Health Center of Manteno, Project Headspace and Timing, Harbor House of Kankakee County, and Fortitude Community Outreach. People can choose which organization they’d like their funds to support.
At the time of publication, Smith advised he had collectively raised about $2,000, but he intends to leave the fundraising campaigns open for the foreseeable future to raise as many funds as possible.
Not Alone: It’s OK to Seek Help
Mental health and suicide have long been stigmatized, but efforts like the ones in Manhattan and Manteno aim to reduce it and, hopefully, make a positive impact on the lives of these two communities.
People should watch for changes in mood, behavior, and isolation of their friends and loved ones — but they should not be afraid to check in on their loved ones as these signs are not always apparent. Counseling is a vital resource individuals should encourage and seek out if they are experiencing anxiety, depression, or thoughts of helplessness.
The community can come together by listening to one another, creating opportunities to support each other, including local grief groups, and having open conversations with neighbors, loved ones, and friends. People must know they are not alone, and spreading awareness about that fact can go a long way to helping others.
Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts can contact 988 to get connected with a trained counselor. This resource is confidential, free, and can be accessed by a phone call or a text message.
Talk to your loved ones and reach out if you’re having a rough time.
If you or someone you love are in immediate danger or are thinking about harming yourself or a loved one, please call 9-1-1 immediately.
Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.