It is deeply personal and labor of love for Luke Fitzgerald. He launched The Love of T Foundation honoring his late mother, Teresa. He says the mission of the organization fits "hand-in-hand" with how Teresa lived, as she was always there for loved ones during their own struggles in life. In finding the way that the organization can best support the community in suicide prevention, Luke was dedicated to finding the right niche. After a great deal of research, and with the help of board member and Pittsfield native Dr. Daniel Burt, the organization is developing a dedicated peer-to-peer program intended to fill gaps in the current model and provide a path to systemic change to better prevent suicide. The Berkshires has the second highest suicide rate in the state. Studies show that when individuals work directly with a peer specialist, hospitalization rates go down, in-patient services go down, self-stigma goes down, and the individual shows an overall increase in empowerment and hope.

I hope you enjoy my conversation with Luke Fitzgerald.