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Kevin Wallevand, WDAY
Published Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Note: Out of the Darkness has pharma backing and does not acknowledge the prominent role of antidepressants and other meds in suicide. – SSRIStories Ed
Fargo, ND (WDAY TV) – For so long, families that lose a loved one to suicide have tried to deal with it on their own. Some find themselves lying about how someone died, just to avoid the topic of suicide. In a few days, Fargo will join the rest of the country in the “Out of the Darkness” walk. A rural Cass County family will be there, just months after losing a “model” son to suicide.
He was the high school athlete at Moorhead High little kids dreamed of being. While he was talented but shy, he went out of his way to put others on a pedestal. Brian Maanum played football and wrestled at Moorhead High in the late 90’s. Smart and talented, but a young man battling depression and on his 25th birthday a doctor visit that changed everything.
“He was actually diagnosed with a Delusional Disorder.”
On medication for the disease, it made him feel disconnected and out of it; Brian became withdrawn. The disease became a monster and just seven months ago, Brian took his life. The little boy who teachers dreamed of having in school had become one of the 16 who die every minute from suicide.
When Fargo hosts the “Out of the Darkness” walk in two weeks, Brian’s family will be there. It hasn’t been a year, but this family realized others were going through the pain and leaning on each other helped.
What a toll this disease takes on families, leaving a sister without her only sibling. A mother without her only son, but now a promise to help with researching and understanding mental illness, to keep other families from the pain.
The “Out of the Darkness” walk will be held Sunday, September 28th at Island Park. Money raised goes for suicide prevention, research and education.