In 2021, a young man who grew up next door to Naperville Park District police Officer Thomas Wronski died by suicide in an area preserve. Wronski’s chief suggested they think of practical ways for police to address the suicide epidemic.
“This tragedy was the real inspiration for Operation Disrupt,” Wronski said.
Operation Disrupt, a joint effort among Linden Oaks Behavioral Health, Naperville Park District, the city of Naperville and DuPage and Will counties, looks to reduce suicides, with a focus on teens and young adults.
“Naperville is a large municipality, and it is representative of most of America, where there has been a dramatic increase in teen and young adult suicide over the last two decades,” Wronski said.
– Original Credit:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicides have increased 30% since 1999. While there was a “slight” decrease in overall suicides at the height of the pandemic in 2020, Wronski said the number of suicides among teens and adults actually increased that year and again in 2021.
Operation Disrupt is hoping to put a dent in those numbers by using police and fire data to identify locations where suicide attempts have occurred in the past, as well as other isolated areas where suicide attempts may occur in the future, according to a news release from the organization.
Just this month, the Forest Preserve District of Will County placed signs in key locations with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number (800-273-8255), Crisis Text Line (text REACH to 741741) and website (suicidepreventionlifeline.org).
“Our forest preserves do not see too many incidents, but if the signs can prevent even one (person) from hurting themselves and receiving help, it is all worth it,” said David Barrios Jr., deputy chief for the Will County Forest Preserve District Police Department.
Barrios said the forest preserves are a great place to get out that message because of how many people visit. Because natural areas are quiet, peaceful and secluded, some people also seek them when they are experiencing dark days, he said.
More Top Picks Best Flexible Seating For Special Education Classrooms
“Our hope is that if someone is having a mental health crisis, they will see the sign and know that there is help available,” Barrios said. “The signs are also a great reminder for other preserve users who may come in contact with someone who is in need, and they would be able to refer them to call or text the lifeline number.”
The first-time campaign for the district is focusing on locations where police have received calls for attempted or potential suicides, or where suicides have occurred in the past, Barrios said. That includes Crete Township, Romeoville, Mokena, Monee Township, Homer Glen, Shorewood, Channahon, Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Naperville and Joliet. The signs will stay up indefinitely, and more signs may be added in the future, Barrios said.
Wronski added that because access and isolation are some of the characteristics that lead to more of these incidents, Operation Disrupt puts a heavy emphasis on having police officers conduct extra patrols of such locations, often on foot, bicycle or ATV.
“Forest preserves, parks and similar areas are precisely the types of isolated places where suicides among teens and young adults often occur,” he said. “So, it is vitally important that they be patrolled diligently to ‘disrupt’ suicide attempts, and that individuals who may be thinking about suicide know that these areas are being patrolled.”
Police officers across departments involved with the program are being trained on what to do if they encounter someone who is exhibiting warning signs of contemplating suicide or in need of other mental health assistance.
“Operation Disrupt is not ‘the answer’ to end all suicides but is something positive that police departments can do to help prevent suicide,” Barrios said. “We are just trying to guide someone in need by offering assistance and being able to refer them to someone who specializes in counseling and treatment.”
While Operation Disrupt was initially geared toward teens and young adults, Barrios said anyone in crisis can benefit from these efforts. Because of that, Wronski said he would love to see Operation Disrupt continue to grow — and noted the Joliet Police Department also recently decided to adopt the program.
“We would very much like to see the concept expand beyond this area, and we would be happy to work with other groups and government agencies to help them launch their own programs, appropriate to their own local circumstances,” he said.
Bill Jones is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.