About Us

Background

End the Silence Walk, a Suicide Awareness and Prevention Walk is in memory of the lives of Bobby and Josh Bintner. They were brothers that both completed suicide, 13 years apart. Bobby was 13 years old and Josh was 17 years old, both battled secretly with depression and felt they had no other option but to end their lives.

The Bintner family was devastated by these events and felt the need to make an impact on the Delta County community with their story. The Bintner family and friends partnered with the Delta County Suicide Prevention Task Force in 2009 to create this event to raise awareness in the Delta County community about depression and suicide.

The Delta County Suicide Prevention Task Force formed in 2006 in response to a plan on the state level to address the social problem of suicide and initiate prevention activities. The Task Force consists of local mental health professionals, survivors of suicide, educators and community members.

Accomplishments

Funds raised from the End the Silence Walk over the last couple of years have funded the following activities that the Task Force has been involved with:

• The BDD Associates (Steve Buckbee, Dan Doyle & Mike Dupont) along with Cindy Bintner were able to talk to approximately 2,500 students in local schools
• In 2012, a representative from the Task Force, Dan Doyle, was able to present to local Public Safety Officers about suicide awareness
• Presented to approximately 85 Delta County teachers at Teacher Professional Development Day about how to handle and identify a suicidal student
• In 2011, the Task Force produced two commercials, "The Faces of Suicide" and "The Survivors of Suicide", that were broadcasted on local television
• Depression Awareness and Suicide Prevention Summit in April 2010 at Bay College in Escanaba. Over 100 people attended the Summit to learn about this preventable public social health problem – suicide
• Depression awareness billboard was displayed on North Lincoln Road

• Depression awareness posters that targeted teens have been distributed in local schools and other locations

• Resource directory flyers, educational material along with pens, magnets and wristbands that displayed the 1-800-273- TALK Lifeline number were distributed to middle and high school students

• In 2010, the Task Forces co-sponsored a federal grant workshop to educate entities on funding opportunities
• A yearly booth at the U.P. State Fair to distribute free materials to the public on a variety of depression related topics and suicide prevention
• Advertising on placemats at local restaurants
• Purchase depression and suicide awareness materials for local counseling and medical facilities

Why is Suicide Such a Problem?

Suicide is a serious public health problem that devastates individuals, families and communities. It is the 11th leading cause of death among Americans and the 3rd leading cause of death among people ages 10-24, but anyone can complete suicide. Completed suicides are only part of the problem. More people are hospitalized or treated and released as a result of suicide attempts than are fatally injured. Suicide is often viewed as a response to a single stressful event; however, it is a far more complicated issue. Suicide results from complex interactions between biological, psychological, social and environmental factors. The typical time of onset of depression is adolescence, although people of all ages are susceptible, including the elderly and children. According to the Association of Suicidology, “although rates vary somewhat by geographical location, within a typical high school classroom, it is likely that three students (one boy and two girls) have made a suicide attempt in the past year.”

About 15 percent of people older than 65 years old experience depression often related to medical issues or certain medications. According to experts, depression not only makes people feel hopeless; it makes them physically more ill and increases their likelihood of death. Perhaps only 10 percent of senior citizens with depression seek and receive treatment.