On #988day, I was invited to speak during the cityofzachary City Council meeting to share my story and #mentalhealth advocacy. (apologies for the Blair Witch style video) I have worked in communications and public relations for more than 20 years. While I love what I do, my industry has one of the worst mental health rates in the world. I’ve spent my career helping others find the right words in hard moments. Tonight, I’m not here in a professional role. I’m here as a husband, a father, a namisoutheastlouisiana and mental health advocate, and someone who believes local government has a real role to play in a crisis that too often gets treated as a private family matter instead of a public health issue. Mental health does not discriminate. In fact, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for children, teens, and young adults, ages 10-34. In 2024, 654 people in Louisiana died by suicide — a rate of 14.1 per 100,000 residents, roughly 3 percent higher than the national rate. 48...