Packers coach opens up about Wausau host’s death and mental health
Green Bay Packers coach Rich Bisaccia took time to talk about Neena Pacholke, the Wausau news anchor who killed herself in August.
GREEN BAY, Wisconsin. – Speaking to members of the media before Sunday’s game, Green Bay Packers Special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia took the spotlight off the field.
“If that’s the last question, I just want to strike a personal note here a little bit,” Bisaccia said.
Bisaccia took the time to talk about Neena Pacholke, a 27-year-old morning news anchor in Wausau, who killed herself in late August.
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“Our wishes go out to his family in Tampa,” Bisaccia said at the news conference. “She was, again, very excited for us to come here. She was becoming a huge Packers fan.”
Bisaccia said he was very close to his family and children. Pacholke’s mother was a basketball coach at a Tampa high school where Pacholke and his daughter also played, she said.
“Crisis counseling is a big deal, obviously. Mental health is a big deal. The suicide hotline, all of those things are available,” he said.
It’s something that Dr. Laura Houser of UW Health wants everyone to know by drawing attention to the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
“The goal is to really connect with someone local and aware of local situations and local resources,” he said.
988 Suicide and Lifeline Crisis
Saturday September 10 marks the last day of National Suicide Prevention Week. However, Houser is hopeful that the conversation will continue every day of the year.
“I think the most hopeful thing about mental health and suicide prevention is something that we’re talking about more than ever in terms of athletes and other famous people talking about their mental health,” Houser said.
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Whether the discussion is on camera or at home, talking about mental health can make a difference.
“She will be missed,” Bisaccia said of Pacholke. “Thank you for letting me bring that to your family.”
If you or someone you know is struggling, the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline It can be accessed by dialing 988.
Localized resources for a variety of circumstances can be accessed through calling 211. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services also offers information and resources for mental health help Y suicide prevention online.
Additional mental health resources can be found through Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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