“No search. No stigma.”

These two simple lines define Martin Oleksy’s campaign pitch Tuesday to U.S. cellphone providers — to install the national suicide hotline, 800-273-8255, into each cellphone’s list of contacts.

“That’s it. They may save lives by doing this one simple act,” Oleksy said.

His public plea is a timely one.

On Tuesday, what would have been the 63rd birthday of the late Anthony Bourdain, instead was dedicated to celebrate the life and legacy of the celebrity chef, author and travel host of the TV series “Parts Unknown.” Bourdain took his life June 8, 2018.

Fellow acclaimed chef and close friend, Eric Ripert, wrote on social media: “June 25th #BOURDAINDAY Celebrating the Life, Legacy & Birthday of our Dear Friend Anthony! Wherever U are & whoever UR with, join @chefjoseandres I & share your tributes & memories using #BourdainDay & wish Anthony Peace & Happy Birthday! RT/Spread the word!”

Earlier this month, Ripert and other fellow chefs officially declared their late friend’s birthday Bourdain Day, suggesting for fans to share their memories about Bourdain, his thoughts and his lessons learned from around the world.

“We were both lucky enough to have traveled the world with Anthony and experienced firsthand the impact he had on our culture, both here and abroad,” Ripert and chef Jose Andres said in a statement regarding a scholarship in Bourdain’s name at his alma mater, the Culinary Institute of America.

To take part in Bourdain Day, fans are asked to upload a photo or video of themselves on social media, toasting to “Tony,” and to include the hashtag #BourdainDay. All of the compiled posts will serve as a digital memorial to Bourdain, whose struggles with depression foreshadowed his suicide.

“We are a nation treading waves of anxiety and depression,” said Oleksy, of Cedar Lake. “We are losing our friends, our veterans, and our celebrity heroes. I still feel that we, as a nation, have not gotten past the loss of Robin Williams, and now Anthony Bourdain.”

“Suicide affects all demographics across all communities. The causes are as varied and complicated as each individual struggling with the notion of taking their own life,” said Oleksy, owner of Skyflower LLC, a branding strategy and communications consultant firm.

Because of this, Oleksy would rather take action — through what he does best, creative ideas — than merely post a photo or video or quote to toast “Tony” for Bourdain’s digital memorial.

“Any active cellphone can literally become a lifesaver,” Oleksy said.

According to a Pew Research Center survey released earlier this month, 96% of Americans now own a cellphone of some kind. And roughly 1 in 5 American adults are “smartphone-only” internet users, meaning they own a smartphone but do not have traditional home broadband service.

Statistics of suicide in this country, spiked by the ongoing opioid drugs epidemic, should sway any hesitance to support this campaign.

From 1999 to 2017, age-adjusted suicide rates have increased 33%, currently the highest since World War II, according to the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention. In 2016, suicide became the second-leading cause of death for ages 10–34 and the fourth-leading cause for ages 35–54.

“People post the suicide hotline on social media, thinking those in need will find it. But they won’t,” Oleksy said. “People will say, ‘It’s an internet search away, just google it.’ But they won’t.”

“Those in need say, ‘They’re good.’ But they aren’t,” he said. “People who are kind will say ‘Please reach out.’

“But those in need of help too often won’t. For someone in crisis, added steps are added obstacles.”

Oleksy is adamant that his “no search, no stigma” campaign is launched as a grassroots effort, nurtured by suicide survivors, supporters and anyone who believes in its potential. (Oleksy can be reached at agency77@gmail.com or 219-765-1936.)

“I am bringing the case to the public first,” he said. “If I approach the cellphone companies, they can bury the idea so it may never come to light. Ideally, this campaign will reach across competitive lines between cellphone providers, and they can all apply this concept immediately to their networks.”

As a journalist who’s written dozens of stories and columns about suicide over the past 25 years, and who’s attended too many funerals for suicide victims, I fully support Oleksy’s idea and efforts. The cellphone provider that takes the first step to install the suicide hotline to its products would be a first mover in the industry and possibly the first to invest in the mental health of its customers.

“They can be more than a provider. They can be a life preserver,” Oleksy said.

He believes other U.S. companies would purposely contract their cellphone service to a provider that installs the hotline, to show support for mental health awareness. Also, the provider would be a trending topic for mainstream media constantly reporting on our suicide epidemic. And providers could possibly partner with the National Suicide Prevention Hotline by asking customers to donate a small amount per billing cycle.

“Many brands have been affected by suicide, and each will want to be seen as supportive partners,” Oleksy said. “But in the end, the cellphone providers will be doing something to save lives.”

I have to believe that Bordain would also be behind this campaign, considering he often revealed his emotional “parts unknown” through his work, travels and storytelling.

In a future column, I’ll circle back to Oleksy’s promising campaign to see whether any, or how many, cellphone providers show interest. The concept couldn’t be any simpler.

“The National Suicide Hotline on every single phone,” Oleksy said. “No search. No stigma. If you agree with this campaign, please share it.”

I just did.

jdavich@post-trib.com