We Can’t Always See the Struggle. But We Can Show Up
Published on September 08, 2026
What if helping someone through a difficult time started with simply knowing what to say and where to turn?
Suicide remains a significant public health concern in Wisconsin. Data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services shows that from 2014 to 2023, the suicide rate in Wisconsin increased by about 15%.
But behind every statistic is a person. A life. A family. A circle of friends, coworkers, neighbors, and community members left to navigate a loss that can never be adequately captured by a number.
Suicide is complex, and so is suicide prevention. There is no single cause and no single solution.
For many people who die by suicide, mental health concerns may not be the primary contributing factor in their death. Financial hardship, violence, historical or childhood trauma, environmental hazards, natural disasters, and other difficult life circumstances can all affect a person's well-being and ability to cope.
That means suicide prevention requires more than recognizing the signs of a mental health crisis. It requires strong communities where people have connections, support, and access to the resources they need to get through difficult times.
And that starts with all of us.
The People We Turn to First
When life gets difficult, many of us don't immediately call a mental health professional.
We call someone we trust.
A friend. A spouse. A parent. A sibling. A coworker. A neighbor.
According to results of the N.E.W. Mental Health Connection’s Mind Your Wellness Survey Report (2021), 70% of community members seek mental health support through friends and family members.
That statistic represents a tremendous opportunity for prevention.
It means that every day, people throughout our communities are having conversations about stress, anxiety, grief, loneliness, relationships, financial struggles, parenting, and other challenges that can affect mental health and well-being.
But it also raises an important question:
Do we feel prepared to help when someone comes to us?
Most people aren't mental health professionals. They may want to help but aren't sure what to say. They may worry about saying the wrong thing. They may not know when a situation requires professional support or where to find it.
And sometimes, the person doing the supporting needs support, too.
Support Others. Support Yourself.
That's where Support Others, Support Yourself comes in.
As a strategy to increase the availability and awareness of timely, appropriate mental health supports, Support Others, Support Yourself is a local initiative focused on the power each of us has to offer a helping hand when someone is struggling.
The initiative was created through collaboration among public health professionals at Outagamie County Public Health, mental health professionals at NAMI Fox Valley, Catalpa Health, and N.E.W. Mental Health Connection, and community partners including Diverse and Resilient, the Fox Valley Data Exchange, and People of Progression.
The goal is simple: give people who are offering help the tools and resources they need to feel more comfortable supporting others—and themselves.
At the heart of the initiative is SupportOthersSupportYourself.com, a website designed to make mental health information, conversation starters, and practical resources easier to find and use.
Because you don't have to be an expert to make a difference.
You just need to know how to start.
A Helping Hand Can Start With a Conversation
Supporting someone doesn't mean having all the answers.
It can mean asking, “How are you really doing?”
It can mean listening without immediately trying to fix the problem.
It can mean helping someone find a resource or encouraging them to connect with professional support.
And sometimes, it can mean recognizing that you aren't equipped to help someone on your own and knowing where to turn for additional support.
Support Others, Support Yourself is about making those steps feel a little less intimidating.
Because life is challenging. It's fast-paced and filled with ups and downs. We may not always realize that someone in our lives is struggling.
And we may not always recognize when we need help.
Supporting others and supporting ourselves are connected.
A Little Light Can Go a Long Way
The message of Support Others, Support Yourself can now be seen throughout the community—literally.
To generate awareness about the initiative, local artist Irineo “Neo” Medina was commissioned to create a mural that captures the spirit of person-to-person support.
(Photo: The Support Others, Support Yourself Mural is located on the side of The Pub, 142 E. 3rd St, in Downtown Kaukauna and was finished in November 2024)
The artwork represents the different places people may find themselves on their journey. In a social media post, Neo described the symbolism behind the mural:
“From being in depths where you’re protecting what little bit of light you have left to being able to share your light with others, we are all on different parts of our journey.”
That message is at the heart of suicide prevention.
We don't always know what someone else is carrying.
Someone who seems to have everything together may be struggling. Someone who has spent years supporting others may need support themselves. And someone who feels like they have very little left to give may simply need another person to help them find their next step.
The mural, located in downtown Kaukauna, serves as a visual reminder that we are all on different parts of our journey and that we have the ability to support one another along the way.
In 2025, a similar mural was painted inside the Community First Champion Center in Grand Chute, a sports complex that draws hundreds of athletes, coaches, and spectators each year.
Both murals feature a QR code connecting people to SupportOthersSupportYourself.com, where they can find tools and resources for supporting themselves and others.
Know the Signs
Suicide is complicated and tragic, but it is often preventable. Learning the warning signs, being willing to check in and ask if someone is having thoughts of suicide, and knowing where to turn for help can help save lives.
Someone who is thinking about suicide may:
- Talk about wanting to die, feel like a burden to others, or be experiencing intense guilt or shame.
- Feel empty, hopeless, or trapped, or say they have no reason to live.
- Experience significant changes in mood, including extreme sadness, anxiety, agitation, or rage.
- Begin talking about dying or death, or making a suicide plan, researching ways to die, or start taking dangerous risks without any regard for their safety.
- Withdraw from friends and family, say goodbye to people, or give away important belongings.
- Use drugs or alcohol more often.
One sign by itself doesn't necessarily mean someone is suicidal. But if you notice concerning changes in someone you know, don't be afraid to check in.
You don't have to be certain someone is struggling to ask, “How are you doing?”
And you don't have to have all the answers.
You can listen. You can stay with them. You can help them find resources. You can encourage them to connect with professional support.
Save the Number. Save a Life.
Contact 988 if you're concerned about someone.
Add the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to your phone today.
You may never need it, but having the number readily available means you won't have to search for it during a crisis.
Call or text 988 anytime, 24/7/365, to reach trained crisis counselors.
And if you need emotional support, don’t hesitate to call 988. You don't have to figure out what to do alone.
We Can All Do This
Suicide prevention doesn't begin and end with a crisis.
It happens when we build communities where people feel connected, supported, and able to ask for help.
It happens when we learn how to recognize when someone might be struggling.
It happens when we know how to start a difficult conversation.
It happens when we make it easier for people to find the right support at the right time.
And it happens when we remember that the person doing the helping deserves support, too.
This National Suicide Prevention Week, take a moment to check in—with someone you love, someone you work with, a friend, a neighbor, or yourself.
Learn the signs. Save 988. Visit SupportOthersSupportYourself.com.
Support others. Support yourself.
We can't always see the struggle.
But we can show up.