CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), an Illinois-based union, is raising funds to increase awareness about mental health resources available for correctional officers in both Iowa and Illinois. This initiative comes in the wake of a heartbreaking tragedy that underscores the critical need for greater support and resources for those working in correctional facilities.
Michelle Schwarz, a grieving wife, shared her tragic story of losing her husband, Blake, a correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Institution in Northwest Illinois. Blake, who was dedicated to his work and took pride in his role, struggled with the mental toll of the job. Michelle explained that despite her best efforts to support him, she didn’t know about the mental health resources that could have helped him cope with the stresses of the profession.
“He was a very serious person, he was very much about following the rules, and he was very proud of the work that he did,” Michelle said. “But the job, and what it entailed, weighed heavily on him. There were so many signs, I just didn’t know the resources to help him.”
Blake’s tragic suicide has deeply affected Michelle, and now, she is committed to ensuring that others in similar situations know where to turn for help. To achieve this, Michelle partnered with the AFGE Local 4070 union, which represents correctional officers. In honor of Blake and to promote mental health awareness, AFGE donated $3,000 to the “Gray Matters Collective,” a nonprofit organization focused on mental health and suicide prevention education for correctional officers in Eastern Iowa and Illinois.
Addressing the Mental Health Crisis in Correctional Facilities
Haley DeGreve, the founder of Gray Matters Collective, emphasized the urgency of addressing the mental health crisis among correctional officers. “Correctional officer suicide is at an all-time high,” she stated. The donation from AFGE will support the organization’s efforts to provide critical resources for mental health wellness and suicide prevention, not only for correctional officers but for everyone in need.
The funds will be used to educate individuals about suicide warning signs, provide tools for mental health self-care, and teach people how to recognize when their colleagues or loved ones may need help. “We want to make sure people know how to check on themselves and the people around them,” DeGreve added. “Checking on themselves is the most important thing.”
For Michelle Schwarz, the partnership with AFGE and Gray Matters Collective is a way to prevent other families from experiencing the same pain she endured. She acknowledges that statistics can often feel impersonal, but for her, her husband was not just a number. “Statistics are just the numbers with the tears washed away. Unfortunately, my husband is a statistic now, but he’s not just a statistic—he was a father, he was a husband,” Michelle said. “I want there to be no one else that goes through this, and I want everyone to be able to go home to their sons and daughters and never have to feel like there is no way out.”
A Call for Greater Mental Health Support
Schwarz’s mission to raise awareness about mental health resources comes at a time when the demands placed on correctional officers are often overlooked. The profession is uniquely stressful, with officers facing daily emotional and psychological strain from dealing with incarcerated individuals in high-pressure environments. The mental health challenges for correctional officers are compounded by the stigma surrounding mental illness, especially in professions where emotional vulnerability is often seen as a weakness.
DeGreve and Schwarz hope that initiatives like the AFGE’s donation and the work of Gray Matters Collective will spark a larger conversation about the importance of mental health care for those who serve in high-risk jobs like correctional officers. It’s not just about providing support after a crisis occurs, but creating an ongoing culture of mental health awareness that encourages individuals to seek help before reaching a breaking point.
As Schwarz poignantly stated, “I want everyone to be able to go home to their sons and daughters and never have to feel like there is no way out.” Her hope is that by raising awareness about mental health resources, more correctional officers will feel empowered to seek the help they need and that no one else will have to suffer the devastating consequences of untreated mental health issues.
This partnership between AFGE and Gray Matters Collective is a step forward in changing the culture around mental health in the correctional industry and ensuring that those who dedicate their lives to keeping others safe have the support they need to maintain their own well-being.
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