Robin Williams - Dead at 63

[gmh1013]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

I've got some experience in this area and I can tell you that I wish I had answers.

I think that in most cases of suicide, it is caused by distorted thinking that is very common in depression. People are not rational and the chemical imbalances that they have cause them to feel worse than most of us can imagine.

I don't know anything about William's life or the details of his condition, but I don't think it's that common for people to kill themselves because they get a Parkinson's diagnosis.

It's not even common to my knowledge for people who get a cancer diagnosis to commit suicide right off the bat, even if depression is common among those who are newly diagnosed, which is the case with a friend of mine now. Some may reject treatment or choose to end treatment, but it seems that most will give treatment a reasonable chance.

I have a friend who calls me a couple of times a year to tell me that she's ready to end it all. It's a very difficult thing to get these calls out of nowhere, especially when a few weeks earlier everything was fine and nothing's really changed.

Although I was clinically trained, my experience has more to do with direct services and case management, so this was not my forte, but I haven't met anyone who really has any answers, only theories.

What answers there may be are lost with the victim and I personally think that after a period of grief at the loss, it's best not to question too much.

The thought of suicide is a great consolation: by means of it one gets through many a dark night.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by gmh1013

I read he was having financial problems as well....all this seemed to push him over.

Well his current wife made a point to counter this immediately, I have a feeling that the reason he chose not to be around any longer and leave his children's lives wasn't financial. JMHO

Grady, thank you for sharing your insight, not easy to relive these details I'm sure so I appreciate your candor. It helps me get closer to understanding.

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by gmh1013

I read he was having financial problems as well....all this seemed to push him over.

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/rob...licist-n180116

This report denies that Williams was having financial problems.

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by gmh1013

The thought of suicide is a great consolation: by means of it one gets through many a dark night.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche

Maybe if you're locked up in a Gulag or had to spend time with Kierkegaard...

[SUBversive]

Thanks for the insights Grady and Marc. I also heard a dust up on NPR a few days ago as someone referred to this as having freedom and the mental health professional on air was trying to explain how that is not a helpful way of talking in the media.

What strikes me is the depth of isolation that there must be even with people of wealth and families. I can't imagine how it is for people without that.