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Iowa mom launches anti-depression coalition for kids and parents

An Iowa mother is launching a new coalition to try and curb the number of kids who are killing themselves in the Quad Cities. Christine Schmidt of Pleasant Vall...

An Iowa mother is launching a new coalition to try and curb the number of kids who are killing themselves in the Quad Cities.

Christine Schmidt of Pleasant Valley lost her 12-year-old daughter Morgan to suicide last year.

The seventh grader had just recently been diagnosed with depression, when she took her own life while her family was at church.

"We didn't see the warning signs with Morgan and depression. There are so many who have suffered. Parents, friends, and family from the same tragedy," Schmidt said.

Last year, at least five young girls killed themselves in Scott County alone.

Now, Schmidt is starting a group called "It's All Love, Only Love," or IALOL, a grassroots coalition dedicated to bringing the issue of children and mental illness to the forefront.

It's too late for Morgan. But not for someone else's child.

"If I have to go door to door like I am selling cookies, that's what I plan on doing. Eventually I would like to see a mandatory curriculum in schools. Why are we not talking about mental health?" she said.

On Saturday, she is inviting the community to an Angelversary at Our Lady of Lourdes Church n Bettendorf from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. It's a family friendly event in honor of Morgan and others who have taken their own lives when the pain became to great to go on.

"We've created an angel board for other people who have also lost loved ones to suicide. They can bring a picture or at least put the name of their special "angel" as well," she said.

She's a mom on a mission. In memory of Morgan.

"It's to show people that even when you think life couldn't get any worse, how can you go on? We're also here to tell you, you can," she said.

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