‘There are people who love you’: Rep. Susan Wild of Pa. gives emotional plea for suicide prevention 1 month after her partner’s death

WASHINGTON — As U.S. Rep. Susan Wild began to speak late Tuesday evening about mental health and suicide prevention, emotion shook her voice.

Lawmakers often share heart-wrenching stories on the House floor. This time, the Pennsylvania Democrat was sharing her own story Tuesday night, which was one month after the death of her life partner, Kerry Acker.

“What most people don’t know is that Kerry’s death was a suicide,” Wild said in a brief, emotional speech, shortly after the chamber wrapped up a long day of votes. “Kerry was 63 years old. He shouldn’t have had a care in the world. He was financially secure, and had a warm, loving family and dozens of friends. He loved them all. And yet incomprehensibly, he seemingly did not grasp the toll his absence would have on those who loved him.”

Wild said she decided to share her story and Acker’s story because mental health issues and suicides are “a national emergency,” and one that knows no boundaries. In 2017, there were 47,000 suicides and 1.4 million suicide attempts, she said, noting that those statistics have been growing in recent years.

“Behind these numbers are grieving partners and spouses, parents and children, siblings, friends, and relatives,” Wild said.

Reversing those numbers requires removing the lingering stigma around mental health issues, she said.

“That means building a future where people truly understand that they should feel no more shame over seeking treatment for this disease than they would seeking treatment for any other disease or medical condition,” Wild said.

She urged those in need of help to reach out, telling them “there are people who love you and who will suffer more than you know if they lose you.” Help also is available by calling 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), she added.

For those who may know someone in need of help, Wild called on them to pick up the phone or go pay a visit.

“Don’t wait,” she said, stepping away from the rostrum as a group of her colleagues stepped forward to embrace her, one by one.