A bright spark in a mad world
A bright spark in a mad world By Chantelle Le Brocque
Sydney, August 21, 2014: The death of entertainer Robin Williams served as a bitter reminder to us all – depression does not discriminate. Williams was to me, like so many others, a special piece of my childhood. We invited this hilarious stranger into our homes without a second thought. We laughed and cried with him, and if you were anything like me, you would quote his witty oneliners at any given opportunity…and it is today that we mourn the passing of our on-screen ‘best-friend.’ He had millions of adoring fans, an illustrious career, family and friends who Robin Williams death puts depression and suicide back in the spotlight. loved him, fame and fortune – from the outside he seemed to have it all. But on the inside, Williams was fighting a more personal battle. Depression is not a “fleeting sadness but a cold, inescapable and relentless sense of despair.” It is not something you can just ‘snap out of’ or ‘get over’, nor is it a character flaw or sign of weakness. In Australia, one in five people aged 16-85 will experience a mental illness in any year, and a staggering 65 per cent of people with mental illness do not receive any treatment. On the day of Williams passing, six Australians also died from suicide and a further 30 people attempted to take their own life.
No two lives are the same, and it is impossible, nor is it right to assume, what another person was thinking when they chose to end their life. Fox News anchor Shepard Smith came under fire for calling Williams “a coward” just hours after the actor’s death was announced. Sadly, Smith is not alone in thinking that suicide is “selfish” or “cowardly”. This misguided thinking often comes from a lack of direct experience with depression. I was shopping at a local gift store the day the news of William’s death broke. There were two older women chatting amongst themselves behind the counter. Their conversation soon turned to the hot topic of the day – the death of Robin Williams. Intrigued by their chatter, I discreetly listened in. One said to the other “if only Robin Williams had God in his heart…he wouldn’t have committed suicide.” Turning to the woman next to her she asked, “do you know of any Christians who have committed suicide?” to which she replied, “no, I don’t know any.” Unbeknown to these women is that mental illness does not take personal factors into account. It can affect anyone from all walks of life. Those who judge others on their motives behind ending their life do so from a place of ignorance, and prevent sufferers from getting the help they desperately need. Suicide is an act of desperation. It is the final act of someone who simply couldn’t face existence anymore. How can anyone say what it feels like to go from someone who loves life to wishing only to die? A high profile suicide is not about character shaming or condemnation. It should serve as a reminder for everyone to check on the welfare of those they love most. We must be more vigilant, mindful and compassionate. We have to reach out to each other; one simple question is all it takes – “are you okay?” ENDS
Sydney, August 21, 2014: The death of entertainer Robin Williams served as a bitter reminder to us all – depression does not discriminate. Williams was to me, like so many others, a special piece of my childhood. We invited this hilarious stranger into our homes without a second thought. We laughed and cried with him, and if you were anything like me, you would quote his witty oneliners at any given opportunity…and it is today that we mourn the passing of our on-screen ‘best-friend.’ He had millions of adoring fans, an illustrious career, family and friends who Robin Williams death puts depression and suicide back in the spotlight. loved him, fame and fortune – from the outside he seemed to have it all. But on the inside, Williams was fighting a more personal battle. Depression is not a “fleeting sadness but a cold, inescapable and relentless sense of despair.” It is not something you can just ‘snap out of’ or ‘get over’, nor is it a character flaw or sign of weakness. In Australia, one in five people aged 16-85 will experience a mental illness in any year, and a staggering 65 per cent of people with mental illness do not receive any treatment. On the day of Williams passing, six Australians also died from suicide and a further 30 people attempted to take their own life.
No two lives are the same, and it is impossible, nor is it right to assume, what another person was thinking when they chose to end their life. Fox News anchor Shepard Smith came under fire for calling Williams “a coward” just hours after the actor’s death was announced. Sadly, Smith is not alone in thinking that suicide is “selfish” or “cowardly”. This misguided thinking often comes from a lack of direct experience with depression. I was shopping at a local gift store the day the news of William’s death broke. There were two older women chatting amongst themselves behind the counter. Their conversation soon turned to the hot topic of the day – the death of Robin Williams. Intrigued by their chatter, I discreetly listened in. One said to the other “if only Robin Williams had God in his heart…he wouldn’t have committed suicide.” Turning to the woman next to her she asked, “do you know of any Christians who have committed suicide?” to which she replied, “no, I don’t know any.” Unbeknown to these women is that mental illness does not take personal factors into account. It can affect anyone from all walks of life. Those who judge others on their motives behind ending their life do so from a place of ignorance, and prevent sufferers from getting the help they desperately need. Suicide is an act of desperation. It is the final act of someone who simply couldn’t face existence anymore. How can anyone say what it feels like to go from someone who loves life to wishing only to die? A high profile suicide is not about character shaming or condemnation. It should serve as a reminder for everyone to check on the welfare of those they love most. We must be more vigilant, mindful and compassionate. We have to reach out to each other; one simple question is all it takes – “are you okay?” ENDS
