Play Ball: Community Event Offers Fun, Mental Health Awareness, and Camaraderie

From Dr. Ken Massey:

Recently I shared thoughts on how we can change how our community deals with the issue of mental health and suicide. We have to deal with it; too many of our fellow citizens are dying because of our lack of ability to discuss the topic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 38,000 of our fellow Americans will die this year by suicide. That is equivalent to a jet airliner with 200 people aboard going down every two weeks. Imagine the cry for answers from the traveling public if anything close to that were to take place.

Great, so how do we start? Our community of Farmington and Farmington Hills is going to take this on directly. On Saturday, Aug. 9, we are hosting a community field day centered on a softball tournament. Our community teams from the department of special services, police department, fire departments, and Botsford Hospital come together to play in this tournament. The event, held at Founders Sports Park, will bring together teams to play softball, resource tables, and people who care.

Two messages should emerge from this event. Number one: people who are hurting and need help are not alone. Their community cares about them and is dealing with this head on by coming together to raise awareness in this way. Secondly, in a family friendly environment we can change the dialogue by allowing our community members who have access to resources and who have kids realize that we can talk about this tough issue.

I invite you to attend the event and, by your presence, make a statement that we, as a community, will not passively allow our fellow community members to suffer and be lost. As a community that cares, we are here, showing our support to change the dialog and the outcomes. Those in our community who are hurting can be helped, just by knowing they are not alone.

Those who have attempted suicide and survive, report how incredibly agonizing is the mental pain they feel. This pain is further complicated by the fact that they feel alone. We as a community, can deliver the strong message that, “you are not alone.” We want to help. There are resources in the community that can help you, and it’s okay to talk about it so that we can get that help to you. We are here to say, let’s move this topic out of the darkness because we, your community, want to help you.

Much like the Susan Komen 3-day Walk — which raises awareness of breast cancer and raises funding for cancer research — our event centers around a physical activity, the softball tournament, and focuses around a fun sporting event. Our community can gather, meet our city staff, watch a game or two, kids can enjoy the bounce-house, checkout police cars and fire trucks, food and beverages will be available.

This is a large community picnic and event, similar to the Fireman’s Field days I recall from my youth (Ok, I dated myself). Resource groups for mental health organizations, specialty needs, suicide prevention can provide information for the public. The event is planned to be fun, informational and supportive.

The logistical information for the event:

The event is at 9 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 9 at the Founder’s Sports Park off of Eight Mile, between Gill and Halsted. The Farmington Hills fire department will present the colors followed by the singing of the national anthem by a special young lady. Miss Farmington will lead the Pledge of Allegiance, and Fox 2 Detroit’s sportscaster Brian Ermanni will throw out the first pitch.

Make plans to bring your family and join us for this event. Your presence is taking a stand and saying WE CARE.

Ken Massey is a Farmington Hills City Council member and a founder of S.A.F.E., Suicide Awareness for Everyone.