Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Teschner, Skaden, Wenzel
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 9/15/2021
Fairest of the Fair Hangs Ribbons (For Mental Health Awareness - 2021)
Clark County Fairest of the Fair Jaidyn Teschner of Loyal ties a ribbon in Wenzel Family Plaza in Marshfield as part of a project to raise awareness about mental health. Valorie Brecht/Clark County Press
By Valerie Brecht
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. and 47,511 Americans died by suicide in 2019.
A local royalty member recently hung ribbons to raise awareness about this issue and the importance of prioritizing mental health.
On Sept. 2, Clark County Fairest of the Fair Jaidyn Teschner helped hang up green ribbons around downtown Marshfield, including at Wenzel Plaza, along Veterans Parkway and along stepmother downtown streets off of Central Street.
My stepmom organized the event of hanging ribbons. It started a couple years ago. Back when I was in high school, I was cheer captain and hung ribbons as part of cheer team. So, this year, my stepmom asked me if I would do it as Fairest of the Fair,” said Jaidyn Teschner, who is from Loyal.
Along with the ribbons, there were signs put up that read, “JB’s Green Ribbons of Hope, Mental Health Matters: It’s time to end the stigma!”
“JB” refers to Jon B. Skaden, a Marshfield native who committed suicide in 1999 at the age of 17.
“He was loved by many, a talented artist and musician, [had] a great sense of humor, and had a love for life. His death by suicide had a profound impact on those in our community that loved him. Mental health affects everyone,” a Facebook post about the ribbon initiative stated.
There was a candlelight vigil Sept. 10 at Wenzel Family Plaza to remember Skaden and others whose lives were cut short by suicide. Jaidyn Teschner’s stepmom Georgette Teschner is a Wood County social worker and coordinated with the nonprofit Marshfield Area Coalition for Youth to plan the event.
Jaidyn Teschner said it was necessary to bring awareness to mental health.
“It’s very important for people to know that there are resources out there and people who care. Mental health is very important, not just physical health.”
She said there was a lot of stigma surrounding getting help for mental health concerns, but that shouldn’t be the case.
“Seeking help isn’t wrong, it’s just what needs to be done,” she said.
“Honestly I wish that it wasn’t just September as Suicide Prevention Month and that there were more events throughout the year. Because I feel like with our younger generation, there’s a lot of cyberbullying and comparing themselves to other people on social media. And they don’t necessarily know that there are resources out there.”
Teschner’s career goals relate to her desire to help young people achieve and maintain good mental health. She is studying at UW-Stevens Point to become a physical education teacher, and double minoring in health and coaching.
“And that is why I chose the minor as health, because health ties into gym, but also when I was in school my teacher would talk about how there are different kinds of health – spiritual, emotional, physical and mental. There’s not just one kind of health; you have to take care of your mind.”
For anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, the Na4tional Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255 (1-800-273-TALK) and the National Hopeline Network is available at 1-800-784-2433 (1-800-SUICIDE)).
