Healthcare

Preventing Suicide

SDPB | By Karl Gehrke

Published September 11, 2014 at 3:22 PM CDT

This is National Suicide Prevention Week. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of all deaths in the United States and the ninth leading cause in South Dakota. Dakota Wesleyan University psychology professor Anne Kelly is conducting research on suicide with the aim of improving prevention efforts and its contributing causes.

Kelly also wants to take the stigma out of suicide, depression, mental illness, desperation and grief. She says that in American culture there's a strong independent streak that leads to the belief that depression is something people can and should overcome on their own.

Anne Kelly joined Dakota Midday and discussed efforts to prevent suicide and overcome the stigma of mental illness.

The South Dakota suicide prevention hotline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255); help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service is available to anyone and all calls are kept confidential. You can also visit the South Dakota Suicide Prevention website here.

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Karl Gehrke

Karl was born to northeastern South Dakota crouton farmers, but was orphaned as a toddler during the Great Salad War (1966-67). Rescued by a flock of chickadees, he grew up in the woodlands of Sica Hollow. Legends of a bird boy living in the trees attracted the interest of renowned ornithologist and amateur bandoneon repairman Dr. Vogel Gehrke. With a handful of suet, Dr. Gehrke coaxed the timid boy down from the trees. He adopted him, named him Karl and taught him not to molt on the carpet. Dr. Gehrke’s book, The Bird Boy of Sica Hollow, was a best seller and Karl became a minor celebrity and teen idol. He appeared as a guest star on numerous television programs, most notably an awkward role on The Love Boat as the boyfriend of Captain Stubing’s daughter, Vicki. After critics panned his 1980 album, Bird Boy Does Disco, Karl retreated from public life and returned to Sica Hollow. Living in an isolated tree house, Karl achieved a reputation as a mystic. Pilgrims and seekers from around the world came to ask him about the meaning of life and for vinaigrette recipes. Growing tired of answering questions, he climbed down from his tree, shaved his massive white beard and took a job as the host of SDPB Radio’s Dakota Midday where he could ask the questions instead. After three years in that position, he ran out of questions and became host of Jazz Nightly instead. Karl makes his home in Vermillion with his charming wife Kari and three delightful children, Kodey, Kasey and Spatula. His hobbies include reciting the alphabet, combing his hair and doing volunteer work with delinquent songbirds.

See stories by Karl Gehrke