Letters: The presidential persona and suicide prevention month

Jacquelyn Martin, AP

The presidential persona

President Donald Trump’s exaggerated claims of single-handedly bringing about economic, national defense and health care improvements irritates me.

The majority of economic improvement occurred under the Obama administration and would arguably have continued improving had Clinton won. His tax bill mostly enriched the super wealthy while ballooning the deficit.

His foreign policy decisions involving Iran and North Korea have proven unproductive.

He has supported the elimination of the Affordable Care Act, including failure to offer a plan protecting those with preexisting conditions.

All that bothers me, but something else upsets me even more.

It makes me sick every day to observe a president of the United States exhibiting characteristics of an unstable persona. I long for the days not far removed when President Barack Obama was in charge and demonstrated the exact opposite. It made me proud to be an American. Now, I’m embarrassed almost every time “the Donald” tweets or opens his mouth.

Trump needs to go as fast as legally possible.

Raymond Hult

Bountiful

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We can save lives

Suicide is the 10th-leading cause of death in the United States, but it can be prevented.

As a loss survivor and someone with lived experience, I have dedicated my life to this work.

During National Suicide Prevention Week, Sept. 8-14, I will be urging my public officials to prioritize suicide prevention and mental health and to “Be the Voice” for the millions of Americans affected by suicide each year.

To prevent suicide, we need to:

1. Invest in suicide prevention research within the National Institute of Mental Health at a level equal to the suicide problem in our country.

2. Strengthen oversight for mental health parity at the state and federal levels.

3. Fully fund the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255 (TALK)) and local crisis call centers.

4. Make service member and veteran suicide prevention a national priority.

Please join me by calling your members of Congress and your state and local officials to ask them to make suicide prevention the priority it deserves to be. Together, we can save lives.

Taryn Hiatt

Vineyard

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