To The Editor:

Although September is Suicide Prevention Month, Suicide is something that occurs year round. The Newtown Cares Suicide Prevention committee is working towards removing the stigmatism attached to mental health and suicide. I recently had a conversation with First Selectman Bruce Walczak where he told me that stigmatisms are attached to many things, including cancer. We should be concentrating more on kindness and on helping people.

I hope you all noticed our banner up at Fairfield Hills along with all of the purple and turquoise ribbons. We had a few folks stop by to help tie ribbons in memory of a loved one they lost. Just a small way to remember the importance of their life. You were here, you were loved and you are missed.

We have a small committee that strives to do something throughout the year and we are always looking for new members. If this is something that might interest you, please reach out. Our meetings take place the second Thursday of each month at the Newtown Municipal Center at 1:30.

Strive to be kinder — even just to say hi to someone as you pass by them. You never know what that gesture could mean. My hope is that if you smile at someone, it prompts them to smile at someone else and so on!

Anna Wiedemann (co-chair along with Maureen Crick-Owen)

Southbury