Jackson County Behavioral Health and Together for Jackson County
Kids has teamed up to promote firearm safety through the purchase of a 12-week billboard.
Jackson County Behavioral Health was awarded a donation from the Dan Carpenter and Gary
Notbusch Memorial Poker Ride, promoting suicide awareness. The funds from the donation are
being used to purchase the billboard promoting the importance of firearm safety as well as gun
locks themselves. In addition to this, Together for Jackson County Kids Coalition purchased
approximately 150 gun locks to be distributed to the residents of Jackson County.
The data gathered from the Jackson County Register of Deeds shows that since 2004, there
have been approximately 53 suicides in Jackson County, 51 of which have been by a self-
inflicted gunshot. The pattern also shows that since 2020 and COVID-19, the number of
suicides has increased compared to years prior. Additionally, the data indicates that most of
these suicides are completed by those ages 41 and older.
Live Today- Put it Away is a gun shop project and safe storage program designed to assist gun
shops in working with the veteran community to provide two levels of support to help address
firearm suicides, including firearm storage outside of the home. Currently, Moe’s Hardware
participates in this program, allowing veterans who are feeling suicidal to turn their guns in, no
questions asked. The firearms are securely stored until the veteran is ready to take them back.
For more information on this program, visit http://www.betherewis.com.
Those interested in obtaining a free gun lock can do so by contacting Jackson County
Behavioral Health at (715) 284-4301 x312 or your local village hall in Alma Center, Melrose,
Merrillan, and Taylor. Each location will have a limited number of gun locks available for pick up,
simply stop in during regular business hours and ask at the main desk of each location. If you
have questions, or would like additional information, please reach out to Stephanie Kennedy,
Jackson County Behavioral Health at (715) 284-4301 x328. If you or anyone you know is
experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact the Jackson County Crisis Line with
Northwest Connections at (888) 552-6642 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.