LIVE & West End Suicide Prevention
Developed by West End Suicide Prevention in 2019, LIVE encourages self-care and compassion in our communities. LIVE means to LOVE (yourself), INCLUDE (others), VALUE (life), and ENGAGE (community). Practice LIVE by LOVING yourself, INCLUDING others, VALUING life and ENGAGING the community.
Anyone can struggle with thoughts of suicide. If you or someone you know is in emotional distress call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential, 24/7 support. Simply call or text these three numbers 988.
Get Involved
To join West End Suicide Prevention’s monthly meetings sign up for our email list. You will receive emails about upcoming meetings, along with information about suicide prevention in the U.P. You can also email wesp@greatlakesrecovery.org or call (906) 523-9688 to learn more.
LIVE Materials
A variety of LIVE materials are free to the community, such as bookmarks, informational cards (with signs of suicide and ways you can help), posters, fliers and stickers. Other items are available to use as prizes, such as phone wallets, slap bracelets and drawstring bags.
Email wesp@greatlakesrecovery.org or call (906) 523-9688 to request LIVE swag or materials.
Suicide Prevention Courses
A number of suicide prevention courses are offered in the U.P. and they are often free. Click on GLRC’s Prevention Education page to learn more about these and other prevention courses.
Community Partners
Thank you to all of the dedicated individuals that make up WESP’s community partners. None of this would be possible without those that make WESP a diverse group that is able to learn from each other’s unique skill set and background.
What does LIVE mean?
To love yourself means to accept who you are because there is only one you. You have a unique set of abilities that only you possess. To love yourself also means to take care of your physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
To include others means to understand that we are all different and that is a good thing. Everyone has their own individual talents and by working together we can make our communities a place everyone feels accepted.
To value life means to believe you have a purpose that only you can fill. Part of this purpose is to help both yourself and others. To value life also means to help others find their significance.
To engage the community means to come together to make a positive difference in the lives of others. We make a difference by having open conversations to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. To engage also means to connect with others.
West End Suicide Prevention
West End Suicide Prevention (WESP) is a diverse group of individuals who work together to prevent suicide in the community. West End Suicide Prevention began as the Ishpeming Suicide Prevention Action Team in 2016, through a three-year partnership with the Marquette County Health Department. The group quickly expanded to include neighboring communities and moved across the U.P. in 2020. West End Suicide Prevention includes members from healthcare, law enforcement, schools, businesses, community members, non-profit organizations and others. The group meets monthly to discuss ways to reduce stigma in our community, such as promoting educational events, attending health fairs, and participating in community events. New members are always welcome. You can sign up for our email list or email wesp@greatlakesrecovery.org for more information.
#LIVE906
Popular demand and funding from the Superior Health Foundation, allowed West End Suicide Prevention to introduce LIVE across the U.P. in 2020. West End Suicide Prevention partnered with many U.P. Communities that Care Coalitions to help spread the word about LIVE.
#LIVENMU
Upon request from Northern Michigan University students, faculty and staff, West End Suicide Prevention brought LIVE to NMU's campus in 2022. A student group was officially formed and meets twice a month during the school year. The first meeting focuses on how to bring LIVE and suicide prevention to campus, while the second meeting is an active meeting in which they practice 'LIVE Breaks' that help them carry out the meaning of LIVE — LOVE (yourself), INCLUDE (others), VALUE (life) and ENGAGE (community). If you are interested in being a part of #LIVE@NMU, please email wesp@greatlakesrecovery.org.
LIVE Art & Word Contests
The LIVE Art & Word Contest was introduced to high school students from across the U.P. in 2020. The contest was not only a way to showcase the talent of the U.P. youth, but to help open conversations around mental health & suicide, which will help to break the stigma. In 2022, WESP was excited to partnered with the Peter White Public Library to have their first in-person showing of the LIVE Art & Word Contest. The gallery will be held in May of 2023, Mental Health Awareness Month.
Many adults have asked how they could be part of such an important event, so in May of 2023, LIVENMU will introduce a LIVE Art & Word Contest open to adults. Watch for details, as this new contest evolves.