MILWAUKEE – Four Milwaukee-area teenagers shared their mental health journeys Sunday night at an event at Marquette University.

Hannah, a 16-year-old from Port Washington, recalled losing her mother in January 2021.

“I fell into the deepest depression I’ve ever experienced,” she said.

The event, hosted by The Friendship Circle of Wisconsin and REDgen, was called “One Thing I Wish You Knew.” It aimed to raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.

The event took on added significance following the recent death of Councilor Jonathan Brostoff, who was well known as a passionate public servant.

Brostoff committed suicide in early November. He was 41 years old.

“It’s more real when just two weeks ago, I lost a dear friend to suicide,” said Rabbi Levi Stein. “Jonathan was a passionate advocate for mental health.”

Stein, who helped organize the event, said Brostoff was a close friend, describing him as a genuinely good person.

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“Jonathan was supposed to be here today. And it isn’t. But we’re still going to push through and make sure no one else goes through this alone,” Stein added.

To honor Brostoff, Rabbi Stein announced 41 free suicide prevention training sessions – one for each year of Brostoff’s life.

It’s called the “We Can Save Lives” tour. Stein’s goal is to train 1,000 people in SafeTALK suicide prevention by September 2025.

You can sign up for a free training session Here.

More than 20 Wisconsin mental health organizations also attended Sunday night to provide resources and support.

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Beverly Goldberg is the co-founder of REDgen, one such organization.

“11 years ago, we lost our 13-year-old,” Goldberg said. “This was founded from a group of people saying ‘how can I help you’.”

REDgen is a group that advocates for youth mental health through resilience, working with local schools, faith-based organizations and the wider community.

Kalie Garret is a member of REDgen and a student at Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy.

“I deal with it every day. If I can help others, I will,” Garrett said.

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The event attracted approximately 500 attendees who heard from teens, mental health leaders and advocates.

“Stop just talking about mental health. Go and do something. Make a difference,” Stein implored.

If you are struggling with your mental health, you can always call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for assistance.

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