Dr. and Mrs. Michael C. Kubly
Community-Based Suicide Prevention Research Program
to Focus on Access and Interventions
MILWAUKEE, Sept. 23,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mrs. Billie Kubly is investing $5 million to accelerate efforts to prevent
suicide and increase access to behavioral health programs for
patients and families at the Medical College
of Wisconsin (MCW). The contribution establishes the Dr. and
Mrs. Michael C. Kubly Community-Based Suicide Prevention Research
Program and will be used to address the ongoing suicide crisis in
the region and around the state.
Mrs. Kubly and her late husband Dr. Michael Kubly have a long history of advocacy
and philanthropic investments to reduce the stigma around seeking
mental health treatment and have supported the development of
research-based interventions and therapies. Previous gifts to MCW
included contributions benefitting families with young children in
need of mental health services and establishing the Charles E.
Kubly Chair in Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine.
"I know that Mike would be pleased that this investment will
help save lives in our community," said Mrs. Kubly. "MCW is a
trusted community partner when it comes to mental health issues and
has the capacity to bring together stakeholders who will be
committed to reducing suicides."
The $5 million gift will be
divided equally between two endowed funds. One fund will support a
named faculty position for a nationally regarded leader to
coordinate suicide prevention efforts, including research and
community programming. The other fund will provide a source of
income to support the work of this faculty member and others who
are staffing and developing the programs and conducting new
research.
The burden of suicide in Milwaukee, and throughout the country remains
high. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States and ranks second among
individuals aged 10 to 34. In Wisconsin, suicide rates increased 40 percent
between 2000 and 2017, particularly among vulnerable populations
such as veterans and individuals living in the state's urban
counties.
"The pandemic has highlighted the prevalence of mental health
issues in our community," said Jon
Lehrmann, MD, holder of the Charles E. Kubly Chair in
Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, who sees patients at the
Zablocki VA Medical Center. "The truth is that these conditions
were already growing before the spread of COVID-19 and require an
urgent community response."
"Billie has been a visionary and an inspirational leader for us,
and this gift will have a far-reaching impact on our community,"
Dr. Lehrmann added.
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content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kubly-family-invests-5-million-to-establish-a-suicide-prevention-research-program-at-the-medical-college-of-wisconsin-301632207.html
SOURCE Medical College of
Wisconsin