Robin Williams: Extraordinary Comic Genius, Sadly Ordinary Suicide

Like many of you reading Today’s Gray Matters, I was saddened to hear that Robin Williams, actor and comic genius, had hanged himself this week. I never quite got the fascination with Mork, but I loved the genie in Disney’s Aladdin and Williams’ character in Good Will Hunting. I’d seen Patch Adams Dead Poets Society, and One Hour Photo. Robin Williams amazed and amused me. He was also part of my age cohort. How could he suddenly be gone? Yet there it was, all over Twitter and Facebook, then on the news and in the papers. People posted their sadness and dismay.

The posts and articles that I most noted were those about mental illness. I struggled briefly with depression myself but was lucky enough to have a good primary care physician who drew labs, discovered a thyroid imbalance, and sent me to an endocrinologist for treatment. For me it was easy: take a few pills for thyroid imbalance and POOF! Depression gone. That was 15 years ago and hasn’t ever been a problem before or since. For most, it’s not that easy. Often it becomes even harder as we age. As people lose their health, their independence, their sense of well-being, their sense of meaning, depression often sets in. Men in particular are reluctant to ask for help and so struggle in isolation and silence. Many people turn to alcohol and other drugs to ease their pain. Alcohol can be particularly problematic for older people  since they’re often on one or more medications and their metabolisms have changed to be less able to handle alcohol.

Robin Williams fit the profile for suicide. He was an older white male struggling with relationships and finances after two expensive divorces. He was a loner who used alcohol and other substances. He had faced some medical issues. He admittedly suffered from depression. Last, he chose a method of suicide that often leads to completion and hanged himself with a belt. His fitting the profile in no way diminishes the tremendous loss that his death brings to the world. His amazing and very public work touched so many lives and leads to tremendous public expression of grief and loss.

Most of us are not geniuses. Our spheres of influence are smaller than Robin Williams’ was. None the less, we matter to someone. If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, medical or financial issues, and may be at risk for suicide, please seek help. Call your doctor for a complete physical in case you have a simple problem like I had. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255), the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Your life matters.

An Extraordinary Man, Very Human

An Extraordinary Man, Very Human

 

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