SAFE tournament drives home mental health, suicide awareness

Ken Massey and his wife Katherine organized the softball tournament at Founders Sports Park. / John Stormzand | Staff Photographer

Written by

Joanne Maliszewski

Staff Writer for the Observer & Eccentric

Farmington Hills police officer Stacy Trott runs to second as first baseman Alexa Sibley, covers the bag for the fire department team. / John Stormzand | Staff Photographer

All in fun and camaraderie, one of the Farmington Hills Fire Department’s teams trounced the police team 19-13 at the SAFE softball tournament and picnic at Founders Sports Park. / John Stormzand | Staff Photographer

The Farmington Hills police team sit on bench during the community softball game against the firefighters’ team. / John Stormzand | Staff Photographer

Farmington Hills firefighter Dan Williams throws the ball to first as Kimberly Bailey steps out of the way. / John Stormzand | Staff Photographer

They gathered to play a day of softball to let community members know that, when life is a drag, no one is alone.

“It was amazing to see all of the people come out. They knew why we were there,” said Farmington Hills City Councilman Ken Massey, a founder of Farmington SAFE (Suicide Awareness for Everyone) and the Graham E. Smith Memorial Fund.

SAFE is committed to raising awareness about mental health and suicide prevention. The memorial fund is used to help fund SAFE programs and activities, such as the softball tournament and picnic Saturday, as well as community conversations with topics relating to suicide and mental health problems.

The event drew two teams from the Farmington Hills Fire Department, one from the police department, a team from Special Services Department and one from Farmington Public Schools, as well as former members — now adults — of South Farmington Baseball and Botsford Hospital, which was also a major sponsor.

By day’s end, Special Services Department (parks and recreation) team members left the fields and the double-elimination tournament as victors. It was close though. Right up to the end, Farmington Hills Fire Department No. 2 team was neck-and-neck and an elimination game was in order.

“The two teams played twice (to determine the winner),” Massey said.

Outreach

Along with the softball tournament, the teams and community members were treated to a picnic under a tent, as well as loads of information about mental health, bullying and suicide.

“There is someone to help,” said Dr. Marlene Seltzer of Beaumont Children’s Hospital NoBLE (No Bullying Live Empowered). “There is someone to help. Unfortunately, so many incidents of bullying (and other issues that can lead to suicide) go unreported.”

The message delivered by the event was driven home Monday evening with news of former Bloomfield Hills resident, actor and comedian Robin Williams’ apparent suicide at his home in northern California.

“Even with stardom, people feel alone,” Massey said. “Mental health hits so many people. He obviously battled depression. He tried to work through it and it got the best of him.”

But listening to television and radio news shows in the aftermath of Williams’ suicide, Massey said commentators and mental health officials are all saying the same thing: “We need to have a conversation about mental health and suicide.”

Locally, that’s what SAFE is all about, Massey said.

Farmington resident Sara Majoros, a Common Ground crisis hotline volunteer and SAFE board member, served as a volunteer Saturday: “This is fun. It brings the community together.”

Majoros, who lost a brother to suicide, said it is OK to ask questions when you feel something is not right with a friend or family member: “It is OK if you ask the question whether they plan to hurt themselves.”

The softball tournament and picnic also served as a fundraiser for the Smith Memorial Fund. “We are all here today to acknowledge a tough purpose,” Massey said. “I think the biggest thing we accomplished is raising the awareness that no one is alone.”