THOMSON, ILLINOIS (December 23, 2024) — In a meaningful step toward addressing the mental health crisis among corrections officers, American Federation of Government Employees Local 4070 has raised $3,000 to support suicide prevention initiatives in partnership with The Gray Matters Collective, a non-profit organization dedicated to mental-health awareness and suicide prevention.
The initiative honors the memory of federal correctional officer Blake Schwarz, a respected union member who died by suicide last year. His wife presented the donation check to The Gray Matters Collective during a special ceremony on Monday, December 23.
"This partnership represents more than a donation — it's a commitment to breaking the silence around mental health in corrections," said Jon Zumkehr, president of AFGE Local 4070, which represents correctional officers and staff at FCI Thomson in Illinois. "We have lost far too many lives to suicide, and I have seen it firsthand in my own community. Our time is now to address this crisis."
The partnership addresses a critical need in the corrections community, where officers face suicide rates seven times higher than the general population. Correctional officers routinely encounter severe workplace stressors, including unpredictable shifts, mandatory overtime, and high-risk situations. These challenges often lead to what experts term "corrections fatigue," affecting officers' physical and psychological well-being.
Studies show that over a twenty-year career, the average first-responder experiences more than 800 traumatic or critical incidents. Recent data indicates that correctional officers experience PTSD and suicide rates significantly higher than both other law enforcement agencies and military personnel. Many officers work demanding schedules, often covering six to seven days per week with shifts extending up to sixteen hours due to widespread staffing shortages.
"We can no longer stand by and watch correctional officers protect our public, yet suffer from mental illness and suicidal ideation in silence," said Haley DeGreve, founder and president of The Gray Matters Collective. "We must dismantle first-responder mental-health stigma, work to get first responders stronger care, and help them understand it's okay not to be okay — there are resources to aid healing!"
The funds were raised through dedicated fundraising efforts separate from union dues, demonstrating the membership's strong commitment to supporting their colleagues' mental health needs.
"We have a responsibility to foster a culture where seeking help is normalized rather than stigmatized," AFGE District 7 National Vice President Jason Anderson said. "AFGE District 7 is honored to join AFGE Local 4070 in its support of the Gray Matters Collective, and is looking forward to working collaboratively in an effort to improve the health and well-being of our federal correctional officers."
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing more than 800,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia. AFGE Local 4070 represents federal corrections officers and staff, advocating for their safety, well-being, and professional interests.
The Gray Matters Collective is a non-profit organization committed to ending suicide and reducing stigma around mental illness through mental health awareness and suicide prevention initiatives.
For the latest AFGE news and information, visit the AFGE Media Center.
