It was their son's affection for others that commanded the Bonines to extend a commpassionate and helping hand by establishing the Thomas A. Bonine Rainbow of Hope Fund through the Eastern Illinois University Foundation. Donations will help fund an annual conference at Eastern on depression, suicide and related issues. Through our efforts, we hope that some loved one and their family can be saved from the devastation resulting from the act of suicide. David Onestak, director of Eastern's Counseling Center, said while the center provides depression screening and seminars on depression and suicide for students and other members of the university community, the conference will be of larger scope, bringing together professionals from throughout the state for an in-depth look at the issues of depression and suicide. We would not be able to do something on this scale had it not been for the Rainbow of Hope Fund.
SOS brings together people who have lost someone to suicide.
Some 800 families have gone through the program. Suicide is the most preventable death and by spending an hour with QPR, one can become part of a team to prevent suicide. She said signs of depression can include any change in a person's personality, too much or too little sleep, waning or obsessive appetite, constant fatigue, vague aches and pains and easy tasks become difficult to perform. Weber's advice is to listen carefully to those around you and offer to take them to counseling. There is a tremendous lack of education about suicide.