There is a mental health crisis happening in this country and it’s not new. It’s a crisis that’s been raging for years. I am deeply saddened by the loss of the great Robin Williams but as my friend David has stated, Robin Williams did not die in vain. His death has sparked this nation to start really talking about mental illness and suicide instead of turning a blind eye to it. Depression and other mental illnesses are very real and can be very deadly.
How many school shootings have there been across this country? How many of those have been committed by people with severe mental illness in one form of another? Ages ago we decided that it was wrong to have mental asylums so we shut them down and we dumped those people out onto the street with no help. We simply expected them to “get with the program” and integrate back into society seamlessly.
I have battled depression for years. In fact, it is one of the main symptoms of multiple sclerosis. My family got me help. At the time everyone thought that it was a simple case of Seasonal Affective Disorder. It wasn’t until years later when I was diagnosed with MS that we learned how big a symptom it is of the disease. I spent the years between when I first felt like something wasn’t right and when I was finally diagnosed as a very angry person as well as very depressed. I had a gift for making people smile and laugh but I’d be in my room at night feeling horrible and on more than one occasion, contemplating suicide.
These last 10 years of my life have been a living hell. I know that a lot of people seem to believe that I never have bad days because I’ve been able to keep my sense of humor and even fine-tune it to a degree. I post goofy status updates on Facebook and I post funny graphics and I say and do things that make people smile. If you think that in my fight these past 10 years I’ve never contemplated ending it, you’d be very wrong. I’m not ashamed to admit it. There is truth behind what Bryant McGill said when he said “Comedy is often the sarcastic realization of inescapable tragedy.” Some of the greatest comedians have also fought some of the most devastating pain and suffering. While my sense of humor is nowhere near the caliber of Robin Williams’, I use humor as a shield, a coping mechanism, just as most funny people do. Carol Burnett, Richard Pryor, Stephen Colbert, Chevy Chase, and Russell Brand are just a few of the famous names that suffered great tragedies in life and turned to comedy to relieve the stress and sadness.
If you’ve never experienced such debilitating depression, I’m glad. If you’ve never been down in that deep dark hole, I’m glad. What I’d like to know is what makes you think you have the right to judge anyone who has. Suicide is a last resort and when you get so low as to contemplate it and/or follow through with it, the pain you’re in physically, mentally and emotionally is a pain like no other. No one wants to hurt those they love in this way. It is not the coward’s way out. Robin Williams was a huge supporter of our military. Did you know that every day 22 veterans commit suicide? Are these brave men and women who’ve fought for us cowards? I think not.
When I first got sick with the first few of the many never-ending infections in my leg someone asked me what they could do to cheer me up. My answer was that binge watching some of Robin Williams’ movies would probably do the trick and during one of the hospitalizations that’s exactly what my sister and I did. She crawled into my hospital bed with me and we watched Jumanji, Mrs. Doubtfire, Aladdin, Hook, and The Birdcage. We also watched his 2002 Broadway show which had me laughing hysterically when I didn’t even want to smile.
Instead of blasting Robin Williams for ending his pain and sorrow by ending his life, let’s allow him to teach us lessons. Let’s allow his death to be a wake up call across this nation. Let’s learn more about mental health issues and how we can help others. Let’s do what my sister and I did and binge watch his movies – learn from the serious ones and laugh at the funny ones. Let’s allow him to do what he’s always done best. Let’s allow him to make us smile.
*** If you or someone you know is battling depression and/or is contemplating suicide, please be there for them and try to get them the help that they need.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Well Robin, your table is ready. I hope you've found the peace you were so desperately seeking. Thank you for the laughs.
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