Empowering Change: Unveiling the Metaphoric Journey of Bliss and 988

"Through unity and understanding, we can rewrite the narrative of despair and offer a lifeline of hope to those in need. Suicide prevention is not just about saving lives; it's about empowering souls to find strength in vulnerability and light in the darkest moments."

As the leaves begin to paint the world in shades of warmth, September emerges not only as a month of transition but also as a time to embrace the light within ourselves and those around us. In this realm of empowerment, we shed light on a profound initiative that amplifies hope, resilience, and human connection.

The statistics are stark: in 2021, the age-adjusted suicide rate was 14.04 per 100,000 individuals, with men succumbing to suicide 3.90 times more often than women. But amidst these heartbreaking numbers lies the story of transformation that Bill Natale, alongside the brilliance of Mic Fabus, weaves through his book "Bliss." Their narrative takes us from the grim digits of a crisis hotline to the inspiring genesis of 988, an easily remembered lifeline that became a beacon of hope for countless souls. As we delve into this empowering tale during National Suicide Prevention Month, we uncover the metamorphic power of a wrong number turned right, illuminating the path to healing and strength.

I was intrigued by the story written by Bill Natale because it's an opportunity to shed light on this horrible epidemic, of suicide. Every year, September beckons us to confront the somber reality that suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the year 2020 saw over 45,900 lives claimed by this devastating epidemic. It's especially alarming that suicide ranked as the second leading cause of death among individuals aged 10-14 and 25-34, bearing testimony to the urgency of the matter. Amidst these disheartening figures, Bill Natale and Mic Fabus emerged as beacons of change, inspiring transformation in the most unexpected ways.

I had the privilege of meeting Bill Natale and Mic Fabus at the recording of the BIBO Today Show, and their initiative to transform the suicide prevention hotline's number from 10 digits to the streamlined 3-digit 988 left an indelible mark on me. From this encounter, Bill shared a poignant story of a woman who dialed the wrong number, igniting the creation of the song "Wrong Number Right Time." This resonant narrative encapsulates the essence of Bill's book "Bliss," a testament to the unforeseen paths that lead us to moments of profound significance.

National Suicide Prevention Week, running from September 10th to 16th is a crucial juncture for mental health advocates, survivors, and allies to rally together and shine a light on suicide prevention awareness. In this spirit, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline stands as a powerful symbol of change. Within its first five months of inception, the lifeline garnered over 1.7 million calls, texts, and chats, painting a compelling picture of its impact. This staggering figure stands as a testament to the urgency of a more accessible lifeline, ultimately leading to the transition from the 10-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to the intuitive 988.

The journey to establish 988 as a nationwide crisis care number was marked by a collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Communications Commission, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This move was rooted in President Biden's comprehensive strategy to address the nation's mental health crisis, as access to immediate help during moments of crisis became a paramount concern.

The story of 988 is more than just a number; it's a lifeline of hope, resilience, and human connection. With federal investments scaling up its capacity, sub-networks catering to different languages, and partnerships with states to ensure a comprehensive response, 988 is poised to transform how we address mental health crises in our communities.

In the face of staggering statistics, the story of Bill Natale and Mic Fabus reminds us that even a wrong number can lead to the right connections. As we commemorate National Suicide Prevention Month, let their narrative serve as a testament to the transformative power of unity, empathy, and the unwavering belief in brighter tomorrows.

Written by William Natale:

As Mark Twain said, “You write what you know.’ That’s exactly what I did when I started writing a book of short stories. Previously I wrote a children’s book which was based on a story I told my kids when I tucked them in. Following “Woolly Wurm,” (that was the kid book), I wrote two novels. Each time the novels were literally, stories that I lived or someone close to me lived. So, it wasn’t a stretch for me to share in story form slices from my life that influenced me to write the stories that in many ways I created after experiencing something real in my life that triggered the fiction to blossom.

While working late at night I did get a late-night call, well after midnight that I initially decided to ignore. And then that voice you hear from your muse or maybe your Guardian Angel that says, “Pick it up.”I’m smart enough at this point in my life to realize that you go with your gut, even if that gut is an angel. “Hello, may I help you?” What followed was terrible news. Someone very close to me, someone consubstantial with me had passed away. The experience was devastating and not something I tried to forget but if I’m being honest, something I can’t forget. And there is a silver lining in how I came to write the short story, That Late Night Call, included in the book of short stories, entitled - BLISS: Forever Elusive & Unique.

The whole point of the book was to share stories that culminated in BLISS. As a writer, my mind must be open to the fact that happiness is subjective. One of my stories surprised friends of mine who read how one of my characters, in his quest for BLISS, desired one thing, to kill a man who inadvertently led to the death of his son. For that father, for that man, that was BLISS.

In That Late Night Call, a writer working late takes the call after a moment of speculation. The caller happens to be a woman who has mistakenly dialed the wrong area code - being one digit off. Instead of dialing 6-3-9, she misses the 9 and dials 6-3-0. The story was written before #988 becomes a factor. The woman seeks comfort. She is at her wit’s end and contemplates committing suicide. The writer is empathetic and talks the woman down. As happy endings go, they wound up meeting for coffee and a lot more that developed into a life of love, laughter, and good food… and maybe some other stuff but whatever it was, the future was bright. That couple found BLISS.

I received some very nice reviews for the book, especially from someone I respected professionally who at that moment worked in a large bookstore and read books and books and books and could uncover what many missed. Although BLISS was a compendium of stories, it also could be read as a novel. Very few got that but the man who wrote the review nailed it. That review made my day. So did the phone call from an old colleague and bandmate, Mic Fabus, from a group I was in called FAWN called to tell me that he had read That Late Night Call from my book BLISS and asked if he could create a song based on the story. I of course replied, “Yes!”

Sometime later, Mic called to play back his composition. My immediate reaction was, “Wow…he nailed it.” My only suggestion to Mic was, “Consider getting a female voice to play the woman in your song.” Not long after that, Mic was able to secure the talent of Sandy Caulfield to play and sing that part. Ms. Caulfield was the singer/songwriter for “Tantrum,” which toured throughout the U.S. with top names like Kansas, Head East, Wet Willie, Mitch Ryder, and Nazareth. Mic played all of the instruments with the exception of the drums in his composition that was recorded at Jim Peterik’s Studio. The drums were in the hands of Gregg Potter who landed the drumming spot with Radio Hall of Fame icon Steve Dahl.

To learn more about the song, Mic created a website that features the song of course, photos/bios of the four artists that worked on the project, and a graphic that features both the book and the essence of the predicament that this young woman found herself in as she contemplated suicide. Fortunately, the counseling she received from a stranger who wasn’t actually with the hotline but rather a man creating his art late at night…the art of words when brought together tells a story that had in this case a happy ending.

Mic Fabus and my efforts now are to advocate for #988 – to make it known – to encourage others on the brink to consider calling because life is too precious to waste. Both Mic and I have lost family and dear friends that we loved to suicide.

For us, That Late Night Call’s metamorphous into the music of WRONG NUMBER RIGHT TIME is personal and perhaps a tribute to the souls we lost in the hope that our efforts save one life or many making #988 as prominent as #911.