Nationally recognized suicide prevention speaker David Bartley gives a speech to staff members of several Marquette County nonprofit organizations Monday. Bartley detailed his 40-plus year struggle with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. (Journal photo by Randy Crouch)

MARQUETTE — Staff members from nonprofit organizations around Marquette County were treated to a speech from nationally recognized suicide prevention speaker David Bartley Monday.

The presentation at the Northern Center on the Northern Michigan University campus featured two hours of powerful speaking from Bartley, who shared his personal journey with mental illness, depression and thoughts of suicide.

Bartley detailed his 40-plus year journey with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Bartley spoke candidly about losing a parent at the age of 7 and the horrifying experience of suffering sexual abuse from a trusted member of the community. Bartley’s traumatic past led him to deciding to commit suicide in August 2011. Bartley wrote a note to his wife, which he left on the dashboard of his car and then stood on the 730-foot tall Foresthill Bridge in California until a police officer came and spoke to him, which Bartley credits with saving his life.

“He created connection. Connection creates hope, hope is a weapon and hope saves lives,” Bartley said.

After the officer talked Bartley down from the bridge, Bartley was then admitted to a psychiatric care facility.

“In a place that I would have never expected, my life changed in the most extraordinary way,” Bartley said. “When people found out I was in a psych ward, to say they were confused would be a radical understatement. People didn’t see me as suicidal. People didn’t see me as crazy, deranged, as depressed. If you’re looking for what mental illness looks like, it wouldn’t be me. I didn’t look that way. People had no idea.”

Bartley then detailed his experiences with a doctor in the hospital, who got Bartley to open up about his past trauma and allow Bartley to start to move forward with his road to recovery.

“Sometimes what hurts the most cannot be seen.” Bartley said.

Bartley shared his road to recovery and stresses the importance of connection.

“It’s hope. One thing never happens when a person is hopeful, they never kill themselves,” Bartley said.

Bartley says that there are three key aspects to creating that connection, and helping those who are having problems with depression or suicide ideation.

“How do you create connection? There’s three ways,” Bartley said. “Recognition, understanding and expression.”

Bartley says that something as simple as remembering someone’s name can create that a connection with an individual who may be struggling.

“You’re going to remember somebody’s name on a day that, unbeknownst to you, that person is suffering, that person is heading down a dark path,” Bartley said. “That moment can make all the difference in the world.”

Bartley’s inspiring talk included a description of how he managed his depression and PTSD with the idea of Whole Person Care. Bartley believes that just taking medications or talking to a therapist alone isn’t enough.

In his approach to wellness and recovery, he believes that the best way to truly achieve recovery is to focus on the physical, psychological, social and spiritual way.

Another part of Bartley’s journey was his time operating the A Chance for Bliss animal sanctuary in California. The sanctuary took in many animals who were approaching the end of their lives and cared for them in a way that focused on the quality of life, not the duration.

His experiences have been shared throughout the country. With several hundred speeches, seminars and training exercises for individuals of all ages, professions and walks of life, Bartley continues to spread his message of hope across the United States.

The event was sponsored by the Women’s Center of Marquette, the Marquette Housing Commission, Great Lakes Recovery Centers, NMU Center for Rural Health, NorthCare Network and Sail Disability.

For more information about David Bartley, his journey, videos of his speeches and information about upcoming speaking engagements, visit his website at www.davidwoodsbartley.com.

Randy Crouch can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. His email address is rcrouch@miningjournal.net.