This story mentions suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call or text 988. For more resources, click here.

FOX POINT, Wis. — In the wake of the tragic passing of Ald. Jonathan Brostoff, a movement has emerged to prevent suicide. 

What You Need To Know

  • Alderman Jonathan Brostoff died on Nov. 4 by suicide

  • A movement has emerged, known as the "We Can Save Lives" Tour, to help prevent suicide

  • Forty-one free training sessions are being offered. Each session is designed to provide participants the tools to recognize signs of distress, engage in difficult conversations and connect people with prevention resources

  • The program aims to train a thousand people in suicide prevention by Sept. 2025

It’s called the “We Can Save Lives” Tour. The program aims to train a thousand people in suicide prevention by Sept. 2025. 

Rabbi Levi Stein with The Friendship Circle of Wisconsin was a close friend of Brostoff and is spearheading the effort.

“When this tragedy happened, it was a complete shock for me as well as to everyone,” said Stein. “The best way I know to respond is to really make sure no one else has to go through what he went through.”

Forty-one free training sessions are being offered. Stein said the number was chosen to symbolize Brostoff’s age at the time of his passing.

Each session is designed to provide participants the tools to recognize signs of distress, engage in difficult conversations and connect people with prevention resources.  

“We all know this is a big problem,” said Stein. “The question is: what can we do about it? This is a tangible thing that you can do. Get the tools on how to help someone who is having thoughts on suicide to help them stay safe.” 

Amanda Eggert is the development and marketing officer at the Friendship Circle. The initiative is supported by community members, including Eggert. She is a participant in the SafeTALK trainings.

“SafeTALK suicide prevention training made me less scared to have those conversations, and it gave me a blueprint to follow to have them in a really productive way,” said Eggert. 

She said she learned how to ask the right questions and develop the skills to keep people in need safe.  

“I think everyone should take this training,” said Eggert. “Onetime four-hour training. You will leave feeling empowered and you will have a method and a means to help people.” 

Stein said that for every 30 people trained, one suicide can be prevented within 90 days.

“We want to make his life count for every moment he was alive, and that’s why we are doing this,” he said. 

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