Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon will join invited local law enforcement agencies in Utica on Friday, Sept. 25, to recognize Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day and encourage open discussion of mental health support for officers. Buttenschon Honors Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day
The public event begins at 11 a.m. outside the Utica State Office Building, 207 Genesee St. Buttenschon represents New York’s 119th Assembly District.
A state resolution and a local message
Buttenschon will present local agencies with a New York State Assembly resolution memorializing the proclamation of Sept. 26, 2026, as Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day in New York. The state observance is connected to National Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day.
The day was created by Blue H.E.L.P. in 2020, according to the press advisory. Its purpose is to remember officers lost to suicide, encourage mental health conversations within law enforcement and reduce the stigma that can prevent people from seeking care.
The advisory says the observance also affirms that a single moment does not define an officer’s life or legacy. That message places the focus on the whole person, including service, family relationships and the possibility of recovery with support.
Why awareness matters
Police officers and other first responders regularly face traumatic scenes, high-stakes decisions, long shifts and public pressure. Stress can build over time, even when a person continues to perform well at work. An awareness day cannot replace confidential care, peer support or professional treatment, but it can make it easier to talk about those options.
Stigma is a special concern in jobs that value control, strength and quick action. Some officers may worry that asking for help will affect how co-workers view them or what duties they can perform. Public leaders can help change that culture by treating mental health care as a normal part of overall health.
The Utica event is intended to bring that discussion into the open. By presenting the resolution directly to local agencies, Buttenschon is connecting a statewide statement with the people who serve communities in the Mohawk Valley.
Support must continue after the ceremony
A formal recognition can draw attention to the issue for one day. Lasting progress depends on what happens throughout the year. Agencies can promote confidential assistance, train supervisors to recognize warning signs and make sure officers and family members know where to seek help.
Co-workers also play an important role. Changes in behavior, withdrawal, intense hopelessness or talk about being a burden should be taken seriously. The National Institute of Mental Health advises people to ask directly if someone is thinking about suicide, listen without judgment, help keep the person safe and connect the person with support.
Those steps are not limited to law enforcement. They are useful for families, friends and workplaces across Oneida County. The local ceremony gives the wider community a reason to learn them.
How to find immediate help
Anyone in the United States who is experiencing a mental health or suicide crisis can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The service is available around the clock. People can also use online chat through the official 988 Lifeline website.
If someone is in immediate physical danger, call 911. A person supporting someone in crisis should stay with them when it is safe to do so and reduce access to weapons or other lethal means until trained help arrives.
These resources are included because coverage of suicide should do more than describe an event. It should also direct readers toward practical support.
Event details
The recognition will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25, outside the Utica State Office Building at 207 Genesee St. Invited local law enforcement representatives are expected to join Buttenschon.
The event comes one day before the date named in the Assembly resolution. The press conference is designed to raise awareness before the statewide and national observance on Sept. 26.
For the Utica area, the gathering carries a clear message: officers and first responders should not have to face mental health struggles alone. Remembering those who died is one part of the observance. The other is building a culture where asking for support is accepted before a crisis becomes fatal.
