Robin Williams' public persona is one of the reasons why his suicide at age 63 has many of us in a state of shock. It was always fun to watch him live as you never knew what he would do. He was the manic clown who had the gift of being able to make us laugh not just with his quick witted humor but his infectious energy which sometimes seemed to take over his entire being. Behind it all though was a very troubled soul.
Although it was not hidden that Robin Williams struggled with substance abuse and mental illness, even those close to him were shocked that he chose to end his life. He recently had been struggling with another bout of severe depression and had even done a stint in rehab hoping to get a hold on the issues that troubled him.
Sadly the demons won.
There are many lessons to be learned from the tragic end to Robin Williams' life. Today we are talking a little bit more about suicide and recognizing the signs of those in danger. I hope that this dialog does not fade away as we move on from the shock we all feel.
Maybe a tiny bit of the stigma surrounding mental illness has been erased. How I long for the day where treatment becomes more accessible and people can freely speak about it.
It is sad that a public personality who was so loved felt so pained that he had to end his life. The love of his family and close circle was not enough to save him. Being on the outside looking in we can easily judge why couldn't he be helped. This is another one of the lessons about mental illness.
No matter what your standing in life, depression is not easily "snapped out" of.
Life itself can be a challenge but when you deal with a mental illness, it is even more so. Even though depression killed Robin Williams, I still feel that severe depression can be overcome. For those in the midst of their own struggle with severe depression I have a message. Hang in there. Take it one moment at a time.
Reach out for help. When you feel the deepest despair look for that tiny glimpse of light. Move towards it. Fight for it!
NEVER GIVE UP!
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