Dan’s Bandana Project Since spring, an increasing number of white bandanas have been showing up around campus, worn by students or tied to backpacks. More importantly, students are gaining awareness regarding what the bandanas stand for: a sign of support for those suffering from depression or anxiety. More than just an outreach campaign, this initiative also commemorates a young man whose quiet suffering did not find solace. Daniel Gerbec, whom the project is named after, was a senior at UW-Eau Claire when he took his own life in September 2012. His mother, Betsy Gerbec, a senior lecturer of biology at UW-River Falls, says there had been little warning and that Dan had tried to seek
“I started this
help, but it came too late.
project because I know there are students
Dan’s Bandana Project started as a way for Betsy to do something
on this campus who, like
concrete to prevent suicide on our campus. It is her hope that when
Dan, are suffering from depression
students, staff, and faculty make themselves visible as a resource
and anxiety,” said Betsy. “They
for students who are suffering, those students will feel supported
need to know we are supporting them
and will find advocates for their wellbeing. The project is promoted
and that there is help, good help, available to
on campus at freshman orientation and campus health fairs. Each
them. Maybe if Dan had seen a campus full of
student who chooses to display a bandana also takes the following
bandanas, indicating support and help, he might
pledge:
have found peace with himself long before it came to that night in September.”
In taking this bandana and tying it to my backpack, I pledge: I will listen if you need to talk to someone I will talk to someone if I need to be listened to. I will help you find a counselor When you need more than listening,
In a generous show of solidarity from the local community, Corporate Apparel and Printing of River Falls has offered to provide the project with white bandanas at cost, print them free of charge, and match the project’s initial order of 200.
I will find a counselor when I need more than to be listened to. “Suicide is a problem that is surrounded by much taboo. We I will be accepting. I will be honest. I will see a person in need of support.
strongly feel that anything we can do to help people know that there is help is something we should do,” Robert Payne, technical manager and co-owner of Corporate Apparel and Printing, said. “We love the concept of the bandana project – not only that
With this pledge,
there is help available, but that everyone needs to be helpful.”
I am declaring support for those suffering with depression and/or anxiety.
A Student Health Services Mini Grant and generous financial
You can talk with me. I want to help.
support from donors such as Nick and Inga Karolides helped
You are way too important to feel alone today.
finance the outreach initiatives and a student survey. If you would like to donate to the project, visit go.uwrf.edu/giving ,
More than 300 UW-River Falls students took this pledge during the
select “Other,” then type in “Dan’s Bandana Project,” or call
most recent Spring Health Fair.
the UWRF Foundation at 877-258-6647.
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Photo illustration: Cole Bredahl