program has seen significant
progress in addressing its
three programmatic pillars:
awareness, knowledge and
skills, and access.
“Since its inception,
nearly 1,000 community
professionals have been
trained in mental health and
suicide alertness trainings,”
she said.
JFS recently hired a suicide
prevention coordinator,
Mayim Meyers, who will
specifically focus on suicide
prevention in the Metro
Detroit Jewish community.
Cohen says in the next
couple months, she and
Meyers will be trained in
ASIST, a two-day, intensive
suicide prevention training,
to help their efforts.
Meyers started in January
and said she has many hopes
for the role.
“My hope is to be one
of the point people in the
community to help support
those who are
in an acute
crisis,” she said.
“And I want to
help the various
organizations
throughout
Detroit know
where to go and what to
do if someone does report
ideation, if it feels like a
family member is in crisis.
Or, if something does
happen, how they can
support the people who
have lost a friend or family
member.”
Meyers said that she
believes a person whose job
is solely based on suicide
prevention is a step forward.
“It throws the word into
everyday dialogue, which
helps to destigmatize it,”
she said. “It also makes it
approachable to people who
may not be going through
a difficult time themselves,
but they know someone
who is and they want to be
a support for those people.
They know where to turn.”
Especially with how tough
the past two years have been
with the pandemic, Meyers’
advice to anyone struggling
is to simply reach out to
someone, whether it be
through the many resources
at JFS, another community
organization or their rabbi.
“Get that conversation
started,” she said. “There
are resources available, and
you’re not alone.”
If you or someone you know are
in crisis, call the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK
(8255), or text the Crisis Text Line
(text HELLO to 741741). For the many
services JFS offers, visit jfsdetroit.org/
find-help/mental-health-and-wellness/
or call (248) 592-2313.
FEBRUARY 24 • 2022 | 33
Mayim
Meyers
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Dr. Robert Cohen
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“IF I’VE LEARNED ONE THING IN
CLOSE TO 50 YEARS, IT’S THAT
TALKING ABOUT SUICIDE HELPS TO
PREVENT IT.”
— RABBI DANIEL SYME