On Tuesday, November 11, 2025, Catholic Central held a schoolwide Suicide Awareness assembly as part of its Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge (GDK) program. The event, organized by Student Wellness Counselor Mrs. Jodi Siberski, took place in the gym and featured guest speaker Mr. Kevin Fischer, a proud CC father and advocate for mental health awareness.

Mr. Fischer’s message carried a deeply personal connection to the Catholic Central community. Both of his sons, Dominique Fischer ’05 and Christopher Fischer ’08, are CC alumni. Dominique, remembered for his pride, passion, and compassion, tragically was lost to suicide in 2010 after a courageous battle with bipolar and schizophrenia disorders.

During the assembly, Mr. Fischer shared his family’s journey, speaking candidly about mental health, suicide prevention, and the importance of supporting one another, especially during times of struggle. His words encouraged students to look out for their peers, seek help when needed, and recognize that no one should face mental health challenges alone.

Dominique graduated from Catholic Central in 2005 and went on to attend John Carroll University as a scholar-athlete. Despite his strength and determination, he faced difficult years battling mental illness.

Following his passing, the Fischer family established the Dominique Fischer ’05 Memorial Scholarship Fund in his honor. The scholarship supports young men seeking a CC education while also raising awareness about mental health and the importance of compassion.

Catholic Central is deeply grateful to Mr. Fischer for sharing his story and for his ongoing commitment to helping others in memory of his son.

Kevin Fischer is the Executive Director of NAMI Michigan. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. A retired businessman, Kevin joined NAMI as a volunteer in 2011 after his oldest son Dominique was diagnosed with a mental illness in late 2007 and was lost to suicide in 2010. After serving on the NAMI Michigan Board of Directors as the NAMIWalks Chairperson for two years, and as Board Vice-President for two years, Kevin accepted the role of Executive Director in 2014.

https://namimi.org/nami-board/kevin-fischer