Wade Ringler followed in the footsteps of his brother Chad his whole life.
They were both North Bay firefighters and lived across the street from each other.
“He was my big brother, best friend,” said Wade. “I looked up to him every day of my life. And we were very, very close.”
But Wade knew his brother, a father of two and a devoted minor hockey coach, had some private struggles, including a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.
“Chad had some battles over the years that he managed to hide well,” he said. “Some things piled up over the years that caught up to him.”
Chad died by suicide in January 2023. He was 47 years old.
Just months later, Wade started a charity called Chat4Chad, including an annual gala, that in a few short years has raised nearly $1 million for mental health supports in North Bay.
“I did it, because I didn’t want this to happen to somebody else,” Wade said.
“It’s been really good for me to be able to talk and that’s what made me realize how important it is.
“Try to make some positive steps forward to make talking about our mental health an every day thing, something that is normal and that we feel comfortable doing.”
Some of that money is helping to launch two new suicide prevention programs run through the North Bay branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA).
One of is a suicide grief support group, for those who has lost a loved one to suicide. The other is the safeTALK suicide alertness workshop, which teaches people to recognize the warning signs.
“I’m a mother of three, I’m a human being. I’m very open to approaching someone if I feel like they’re having a hard time. And I’ve asked my children specifically if they’ve had thoughts of suicide,” said Malinda Hirvilammi, a health promotions coordinator with the CMHA in North Bay.
“It’s a direct question, you don’t want any grey areas and it’s important to ask and you’d be surprised how comfortable you become asking that question and you’d be surprised at the response.”
