A new initiative called Chat4Chad has been created to try and raise funds in support of a child adolescent mental health unit at the North Bay Regional Health Centre.
The initiative is named in memory of Chad Ringler, a long-time North Bay Firefighter who took his own life this past January.
Wade Ringler, a firefighter as well as the brother of Chad, made a presentation to the North Bay Police Board looking for support.
"Chad struggled with mental health and things in his life kept piling up," Wade explained about his brother who passed away at the age of 47.
"He hid it very well."
For that reason Wade Ringler says the key message from Chat4Chad is to talk early, often and now because you have to.
"It needs to be addressed, you need to have supports in place and it is important," said Ringler.
"These problems in society, in this community, all over the place are huge and if we do not start making a difference in talking about them, the outcomes are not going to be good."
Scott Tod, North Bay's Police Chief, was touched by the presentation made by Ringler about Chad. The North Bay Police Board also committed $1,000 to go towards the cause.
"I really mentioned today that Chad and his family are truly heroic in what they are doing for our community and honouring Chad's memory with Chat4Chad and the continued dialogue will happen across our community for years to come," said Tod.
"It is very important for our police services to work with our emergency service partners in our community and recognize the trauma that happens to service workers across our community and the amount of trauma they will experience at work while serving our community."
Chat4Chad will be hosting a gala dinner and fundraiser at the Grande Event Centre in Downtown North Bay on June 24. The event is already sold out.
Ringler says the family wanted some good to come from Chad's tragic passing.
"Chad was an amazing guy, he helped so many people," said Ringler.
"A very well-respected captain in the fire department. This is a tragic situation that my family is dealing with but it is important we make sure good comes from this. Chad would want it. It is important, it is necessary. It has to happen now. Things are not getting better unless we make things better so in honour of Chad we are launching Chat4Chad."
Organizers say Chat4Chad will support the needs of patients and clients receiving care and treatment through the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Unit (CAMHU) and the Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Unit (AIPU).