CHARLOTTE, NC – May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
The U.S. Surgeon General calls mental health the defining health crisis of our time. In fact, last year, more than 50,000 people took their life by suicide. That’s the highest rate of suicide that the nation has ever seen.
And in recent years, young African Americans between 10 and 24 years old saw the largest increase in suicides.
Now, one woman is declaring WAR on suicide and is teaching others how to help change the stigma surrounding mental health issues, especially in the Black community.
“I was extremely tired. All I wanted to do was go to sleep. My work suffered,” said Fonda Bryant.
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Bryant was a single mom and stressed over finances.
“Those negative thoughts ‘You’re not worthy. Your son would be better off, kill yourself. Nobody’s gonna miss you.’ Those are the things that hit you the most,” explained Bryant.
It was the first time Bryant thought about taking her life. The second time was a similar situation.
“I was gonna jump from a parking deck,” Bryant said.
One last call saved her life.
“I called my Aunt Spankie, and I told her she could have my shoes,” Bryant said.
“That didn’t sit well with me. I called her back and I asked her, ‘Are you planning to hurt yourself? Are you planning to kill yourself?’ and she said, ‘Yes,’” said Kelly (Spankie) Davis.
Davis immediately called authorities and Bryant was involuntarily committed to a mental hospital.
A few years later, Bryant started putting up signs in parking garages that give people the number to call to get immediate help.
Next, she supported a bill in the North Carolina legislature to set aside $500,000 to put up the signs all over the state. Then, she began teaching QPR.
“QPR stands for question, persuade, refer,” explained Bryant.
She has taught thousands of people through free monthly webinars and in-person classes on how to help someone who is suicidal and how to recognize the signs, including, Change in appearance, not eating or eating too much and turning to substance abuse.”
Bryant also started her own nonprofit called Wellness, Action, Recovery, or WAR.
“I tell everybody I go to WAR with the public, that we’re crazy, we’re nuts, we’re psycho,” said Bryant.
She wants everyone suffering from mental health conditions to know they are not alone.
“Those three words are so important because a lot of times when we’re struggling, you feel so alone,” explained Bryant.
Fonda teaches QPR training for free once a month. You can sign up at wellnessactionrecovery.org. Once you complete the two-hour course, you will become a certified gatekeeper, which means you will know what to do and how to recognize the signs and help someone who is suicidal.
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts and needs help immediately, call the National Crisis Hotline at 988.
Here is a list of resources:
- Text TALK: to 741741 (suicide)
- Text HOME: to 741741 (crisis)
- Children Home Society’s Family Support: Warm Line 1-888-733-6303 (chslistens.com)
- United Way: Dial 211 for 24-hour crisis intervention and suicide prevention
- The Vinson Foundation: Helping Families Coping with Suicide Loss (https://thevinsonfoundation.org/)
- Heretomorrow: Helpline in Neptune Beach available Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. -- (904) 372-9087 (heretomorrow.org)
- LSF Health Systems: 24/7 ACCESS TO CARE LINE: (877) 229-9098 (https://www.lsfhealthsystems.org/)
- NAMI Jacksonville: Dial 904-323-4723 or email Helpline@namijax.org (https://www.namijax.org/)