On Robin Williams and Suicide

Tuesday, August 12, 2014
I was sitting on the couch last night, looking at Facebook, when the news started scrolling that Robin Williams had died, an apparent victim of suicide. Tributes to his humor are trending all over the Internet, and it should come as a surprise to no one that this is a triggering event for me.

Robin Williams' representative reported that Robin had been suffering from severe depression for some time, and we all know - depression lies. 

Here's a man who had everything - money, fame, a long successful career. And yet he couldn't manage his depression well enough to save himself from the final lie - the idea that he (and the world) would be better off without him.

While I must respect people's agency in making their own decisions about their life and death, I really don't want to hear about one more child, parent, sibling, or friend taking their own life. Why can't we find a way to help people who suffer from severe depression before it's too late? What is it about this disease that encourages people to shut out those who love them? Why can't we fix this?

I wish to hell I knew.
There are all sorts of different families, Katie. Some families have one mommy, some families have one daddy, or two families. And some children live with their uncle or aunt. Some live with their grandparents, and some children live with foster parents. And some live in separate homes, in separate neighborhoods, in different areas of the country – and they may not see each other for days, or weeks, months… even years at a time. But if there’s love, dear… those are the ties that bind, and you’ll have a family in your heart, forever.  - Mrs. Doubtfire

0 comments: