Yorkville Resident Says Depression, Suicide Shouldn't Be Taboo Topics

Dennis Larson doesn’t shy away from the topic of suicide.

The Yorkville resident’s father struggled with depression for several years before taking his life when Larson was 11 years old. More recently, he has grieved the death of his cousin, Yorkville High School student Dallas Larson, who killed himself last year.

“One of the biggest things you learn from losing someone to suicide is you have to be able to talk about it,” Larson said. “You have to be able to share stories about the person, even the painful ones, because the memories are all you have.”

That’s why he says fundraisers such as Suicide Prevention Services of America’s annual ‘Here For Life!’ Walk can be helpful. The event begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, at Potawatomie Park in St. Charles.

He lauds organizations such as the Batavia-based Suicide Prevention Services. The mission of SPS is to open minds, save lives and restore hope through prevention, intervention and postvention, using education, advocacy and collaboration, according to the organization’s website.

“I really appreciate what they do,” Larson said. “The biggest thing is to talk to somebody. You need to get someone you can open up to whether physically or on a phone.”

Proceeds from Saturday’s walk support SPS programs and services advancing the cause for suicide prevention.

Larson’s parents had been going through a separation when his father committed suicide. At the time, his father was worried a divorce would mean he would not see his children as often.

Larson recognizes the absurdity of his father’s thinking.

“Instead of viewing it as he would have visitation and would still see us all the time, he had an all or nothing kind of view,” he said. “He figured if they were separated he’d never see his kids. It was the weight of that."

Larson learned his father had struggled with depression before his death, and had unsuccessfully tried to take his life in the past.

These days, Larson will take the phone calls he gets early in the morning and late at night from friends and family who need to talk.

“I’ve had friends that have tried committing suicide or had thoughts of it,” Larson said. “I’m very open to talking to people about it.”

He wishes the topics of depression and suicide were discussed more in the schools. Larson said teens are especially susceptible to depression and suicide.

"Yes, there are people that are older but a lot of the youth are doing it because of all peer pressure and drama at school," he said. “There should be more awareness about it than there is. You’ve got to be able to talk about it.”

For more information about Saturday’s ‘Here For Life!’ Walk, click here.