August 12, 2014
Best known for an impressive body of work that includes the films “Good Will Hunting,” “Awakenings,” “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “The Butler” and dozens more, the always funny Williams always seemed to have it all. Apparently, he did not. Williams was found Monday morning in his home near Los Angeles, the victim of what the coroner has called “a suicide due to asphyxia.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depression, major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how someone feels, thinks and behaves and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. A depressed person may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities and may feel as if life isn’t worth living.
Perhaps the greatest misconceptions about depression are that it’s just a bout of the blues, that depression isn’t a weakness, or that it’s something a person can simply “snap out” of. Depression is much more complex than that and may require long-term treatment and certainly the love and support from family and friends.
An estimated 19 million American adults are living with major depression. Sadly, up to 15% of those who are clinically depressed die by suicide. The majority of suicide attempts are expressions of extreme distress that need to be addressed and are not just a harmless cry for attention. A suicidal person should not be left alone and needs immediate mental health treatment.
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Sadly, the world is just now learning that Robin Williams was one of those in need of help. “He has been battling severe depression of late,” his media representative Mara Buxbaum said yesterday. “This is a tragic and sudden loss. The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time.”
In a family statement, Williams’ wife, Susan Schneider, said:
“This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings. I am utterly heartbroken. On behalf of Robin’s family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief. As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin’s death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions.”
In memory of Robin Williams, President Obama issued the following statement:
“Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But he was one of a kind. He arrived in our lives as an alien — but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit. He made us laugh. He made us cry. He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most — from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalized on our own streets.”
Robin Williams was 63.
