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Awareness week gets Quad Citians talking about disabilities and mental health

People in the Quad Cities are talking about suicide… and that’s the goal – to talk about it. On Wednesday, April 29th, Black Hawk College held...

People in the Quad Cities are talking about suicide... and that's the goal - to talk about it.

On Wednesday, April 29th, Black Hawk College held an event called "Suicide and Aftermath: The Impact on Families and Our Community." The discussion was presented by Transitions Mental Health and is part of BHC's 4th Annual Disability Awareness Week.

"There are people out there with disabilities," said Susan Sacco, Disability Coordinator for BHC. "They don't have a big D on their foreheads so it could be an invisible disability. It could be physical, but our point is we need to talk about it. We need to embrace it and celebrate. There's nothing wrong with having a disability."

As part of the discussion, George Smith spoke about his experience with mental illnesses. His son, Adam Smith, committed suicide in July 2012 when he was 26 years old.

Smith said Adam suffered from depression, a condition that impacts 1 in 10 adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

"He was a normal, healthy young man," described George. "He was an avid musician and loved playing his guitar."

George and his wife are now using that love of music to make some noise about mental health. In 2014, they started AdamFest. The all-day outdoor music festival raised more than $20,000 for their new group - the Rock Island County Mental Health Research Foundation. George said $10,000 of that went to the Iowa University Mental Health Research Facility.

"We hope to make a difference," said George. "It has to hit home for you to hurt like my wife and I have hurt and I hate to see another family go through what we went through."

They will be holding AdamFest again this year. It's scheduled for Sunday, August 2nd from noon-8 p.m. in front of Hilltop Fitness, 849 Avenue of the Cities, East Moline. For more information  on the event, click here.

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