BUCKTOWN — Dana Tengelsen's harshest critic was himself, according to his sister. Still grieving for her brother who took his own life after years of struggling with depression, she described her sibling as "very talented, very bright and able to function on a professional level."
But as the years went by, "it became harder for him to cope, said Sabrina Tengelsen Guthrie.
"He would second-guess himself constantly and was very critical of himself," Guthrie said.
Diagnosed with severe depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tengelsen lived in Los Angeles and ran an inventory warehouse for a large audio equipment company.
He died Jan. 16, 2013, at age 50 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Tengelsen was the third member of his family to die of suicide, after an uncle in his late 40s had killed himself, and a grandfather in his 80s who did the same.
"People feel shame or are full of embarrassment. They don't want to say they have a husband, wife or son or anyone close to them that committed suicide," Guthrie said.
To help combat the stigma associated with suicide, Guthrie, a Bucktown resident, will join 1,600 people at the National Alliance on Mental Illness' Ninth Annual 5K Walk in Grant Park, 205 E. Randolph St. on Sept. 27.
Guthrie's "Team Dana" — which will have about 35 members, including another Tengelsen sibling who lives in Bucktown with his family — will join over 100 groups walking to raise money for suicide prevention and to honor a loved one or friend whose life is affected by a range of other mental illnesses, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and eating disorders.
The Chicago walk joins 85 other NAMI walks taking place nationwide this fall, said Moshe Brownstein, a manager for Chicago's NAMIWalks, 1536 W. Chicago Ave. in Noble Square.
The proceeds from the walk will be used for mental health education, support, advocacy and active community outreach, Brownstein said.
"We have walkers who are there because of a personal connection to suicide, but many walkers participate in honor of someone, " Brownstein added.
Guthrie joined NAMI'S board of directors in the months after her brother's death, and her team was the organization's top fundraising squad last September, bringing in $30,000.
For this month's walk, Guthie has raised close to $5,600 toward a $10,000 goal. To learn more about Team Dana, visit the team's fundraising website.
NAMIWalks will take place just one week after another Grant Park walk, Out of the Darkness, sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
The goal of both walks is to raise awareness of suicide, which claims 40,000 people annually, and help fund suicide prevention programs and outreach.
Additionally, the walk is a chance for families whose lives have been impacted by suicide to meet.
"The more I talk about it, the more I hear other people's stories. It's a devastating, life-changing loss. The only way to make any sense of it is to do something to help others," Guthrie said.
This fall, the walk could be more meaningful for millions of fans of actor Robin Williams, who killed himself at age 63. Brownstein said Williams' death has "helped bring greater attention to the issues that people who are affected by mental illness face."
"We've seen every major news outlet report on [Williams'] passing, and many of these stories have included perspective from people who have contemplated suicide, family members who have lost a loved one to suicide and representatives from mental health organizations that provide services to those affected by mental illness," Brownstein said.
The NAMIWalks celebrate mental illness recovery, honor those who have lost their lives to mental illness, raise funds for critical programs, combat stigma and promote awareness. For more info on the Sept. 27 Downtown or Oct. 18 north suburban NAMIWalks, visit the event's website, email namiwalkschicago@gmail.com, or call 312-563-0445.
For more info on the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Out of the Darkness Walk, scheduled for Sept. 20, visit the event's website, email chicago@afsp.org, or call 312-890-2377.
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