Area residents raise awareness, funds to battle depression, suicide

By TOM STANKARD

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Ironwood - When Pat Gallinagh's sister died of suicide in 1967, he wanted to do something about it.

To raise awareness of suicide, he joined the Lifekeeper Memory Quilt program.

Through the quilts, Gallinagh, of Ironwood, said it puts a human face on the tragedy of suicide and the toll it takes on the victim's family and the community.

Gallinagh, a member of the Range Suicide Prevention Council, said the club finished its sixth quilt earlier this week, with help from Susan Kangas, of Ironwood.

Each quilt, he said, serves as a personal and loving memorial for suicide victims and hopefully helps save lives.

On the quilt, there are a number of submitted images of people who died of suicide, along with a personal story.

When people see the quilt, he wants people to realize those on it were "normal people.

"They were just like everybody else," he said. "They don't look like psychotics."

On Thursday, Gallinagh showed the quilt to students at Gogebic Community College in Ironwood and informed them how to prevent suicide.

Pointing at the quilt, he said every person on it fought and lost a battle with depression. He hopes the quilt will encourage people suffering from depression to seek help.

"They say, right now, doctors have a nearly 80 percent success rate for treating depression, but only about 30 percent of people with depression get any help," he said.

He gave students a pamphlet about preventing teenage suicide. According to the pamphlet, triggers of depression include interpersonal conflicts with family members and friends and teenagers coming to grip with their sexual orientation.

Gallinagh said there are many symptoms of depression that people should be aware of.

"One of them is a loss of interest in something you loved to do," he said. "Others are feelings of uselessness and giving away treasured possessions."

If anybody knows someone suffering from depression, he said there are ways to intervene.

"Don't yell, scold or ridicule them," he said. "Ask them how they're feeling. Emphasize that you care. Let them know help is available and that you'll help get it. Ask them point blank if they are thinking about killing themselves. If yes, ask them if they have a plan. If yes, don't leave them alone, go to the emergency room."

As another way to raise awareness of suicide prevention, the annual Danny B Jack and Jill Softball Tournament has taken place in Gile, Wis., annually since 2010. The tournament honors Danny Baross, who committed suicide in 2009.

This year, Gallinagh said the tourney raised more than $4,000 to provide services to prevent suicide.