Messages of hope to go to UP veterans

ESCANABA, Mich. (WLUC) - September is National Suicide Prevention Month and community members in Escanaba are sending messages of hope to veterans in the U.P. and Northern Wisconsin.

Communications Professor Renee Strom says she started the "Cards of Hope" project to connect with veterans in the U.P.

"We're partnering with the VA in Iron Mountain because it's National Suicide Awareness Month," Strom said. "We're really wanting to support veterans who are struggling right now."

Bay College staff, students and community members came together Thursday on the Escanaba Campus to design and handwrite cards.

"We know that handwritten cards, those caring type of contacts, make a big difference for somebody who's struggling," Strom said.

Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center Suicide Prevention Coordinator Mary Campbell says the homemade cards are part of a larger outreach plan.

"One of the things we have been working on is coming up with some care packages that we wanted to send to our veterans so that they know that they're not alone in this," Campbell said. "That there is support. There are people that help."

Campbell says suicide prevention efforts should stretch much further than just one or two events, in one month of the year and at only two locations.

"We know it's not just a veteran issue," Campbell said. "It's not just a mental health issue. It's an everybody issue. We know that the suicide rates have been increasing, have been prevalent, not just in our veteran community but in the United States as a whole. Part of this is also bringing awareness to suicide prevention as a whole. We obviously focus with the VA on our veteran population, but we know it's an issue for everybody."

Campbell says the 100 care packages will be sent to veterans in OGJVAMC's coverage area, which includes the entire U.P. and nine counties in Northern Wisconsin. The packages will include notebooks, pens, other goodies and the homemade card.

Community members who missed Thursday's event have another opportunity to participate in sending cards filled with hope and love to veterans in need.

"Next Thursday, we are going to be doing it at the Iron Mountain campus," Strom said. "Because we wanted to give both communities and both campuses the opportunity to help."

The September 26 meeting is from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. CT in the lower commons area of the college at 2801 N US Highway 2, Iron Mountain, MI 49801.

Campbell says she has also received some homemade cards for the care packages by mail. Anyone who can't make next week's gathering can mail homemade cards to Mary Campbell, OGJVAMC, 325 E H St, Iron Mountain, MI 49801.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.