Dozens brave conditions to remember suicide victims on National White Wreath Day

Dozens of people who had lost those near and dear to them assembled outside of the Ballarat Town Hall for National White Wreath Day, an event which saw people across the country gather to remember those who were taken too soon. 

Among those who took to the microphone on Sunday afternoon was John Shanahan, whose son Nathan took his own life in December last year after a public battle with post traumatic stress disorder.  

A former fireman and SAS soldier, the 40-year-old had completed a mammoth walk from Mildura to Adelaide in 10 days while carrying a 28-kilogram backpack to raise funds for PTSD awareness a year prior to taking his own life.   

He had served with the Australian Army in the Soloman Islands.  

Mr Shanahan said his son’s death was proof mental illness can be overwhelming even for those who are upfront about their struggles.   

“He spoke openly to groups and he was very open about his mental illness and his struggles with post traumatic stress, but still he couldn’t overcome his demons,” Ms Shanahan.  “(Events like National White Wreath Day) make us feel like we’re not alone and like we are getting the message out there.  

“It’s not a stigma and it’s something that needs to be talked about, because we talk about cancer and we talk about the road toll, but this is no different.” 

The annual event is coordinated by the Ballarat branch of Survivors of Suicide, which was established by Kristy Steenhuis in 2005 after her husband took his own life. SOS vice chairman Flo Ramanauskas said while the magnitude of suicide in the community was starting to gain attention, Ballarat continued to be statistically well over-represented.   

“We all know someone who has taken their own life so it’s so important that (families of suicide victims) can see there is that connection to the community,”  Ms Ramanauskas said.  

“Locally we’ve still got a lot to talk about.”