21st July 1951 – 11th August 2014
Comedy actor Robin Williams’ suicide after a long battle with depression aged only 63 has left the world in shock.
Robin Williams first sprung to fame as an alien in hit US comedy series ‘Mork and Mindy’ in 1978. From this TV debut the star never looked back, landing lead roles in some of the most poignant films of our time such as the acclaimed ‘Dead Poet’s Society’, ‘Awakenings’ and as a therapist in ‘Good Will Hunting,’ which won him an Oscar in 1998.
He also brought to life unforgettable performances as divorcee turned nanny ‘Mrs Doubtfire’, Peter Pan in ‘Hook’ alongside the lead in family adventure film ‘Jumanji’ and the voice of Genie in Disney’s ‘Aladdin’. His fanbase was wide and far reaching, from young to old. He took well to serious roles as well as comedic ones with gusto.
While the tributes have been pouring in from family, friends and fans all around the world so has the subject of his depression. Is it still socially acceptable to say someone has died from suicide or should we actually be saying depression?
US Author Tom Clempson has posted a very thought provoking post about this topic, one that is definitely worth reading.
Robin Williams didn’t die from suicide. I only just heard the sad, sad news of Robin Williams’ death. My wife sent me a message to tell me he had died, and, when I asked her what he died from, she told me something that nobody in the news seems to be talking about.
When people die from cancer, their cause of death can be various horrible things – seizure, stroke, pneumonia – and when someone dies after battling cancer, and people ask “How did they die?”, you never hear anyone say “pulmonary embolism”, the answer is always “cancer”. A pulmonary embolism can be the final cause of death with some cancers, but when a friend of mine died from cancer, he died from cancer. That was it. And when I asked my wife what Robin Williams died from, she very wisely replied “depression”.
The word “suicide” gives many people the impression that “it was his own decision,” or “he chose to die, whereas most people with cancer fight to live.” And, because depression is still such a misunderstood condition, you can hardly blame people for not really understanding.
Just a quick search on Twitter will show how many people have little sympathy for those who commit suicide…but, just as a pulmonary embolism is a fatal symptom of cancer, suicide is a fatal symptom of depression. Depression is an illness, not a choice of lifestyle. You can’t just “cheer up” with depression, just as you can’t choose not to have cancer. When someone commits suicide as a result of depression, they die from depression – an illness that kills millions each year. It is hard to know exactly how many people actually die from depression each year because the figures and statistics only seem to show how many people die from “suicide” each year (and you don’t necessarily have to suffer depression to commit suicide, it’s usually just implied). But considering that one person commits suicide every 14 minutes in the US alone, we clearly need to do more to battle this illness, and the stigmas that continue to surround it.
Perhaps depression might lose some of its “it was his own fault” stigma, if we start focusing on the illness, rather than the symptom. Robin Williams didn’t die from suicide. He died from depression and it wasn’t his choice to suffer that.
Tributes to Robin Williams:
US president Barack Obama, said: “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. The Obama family offers our condolences to Robin’s family, his friends, and everyone who found their voice and their verse thanks to Robin Williams.”
Ben Affleck, Williams’ co-star from ‘Good Will Hunting’ said: “Heartbroken. Thanks chief – for your friendship and for what you gave the world. Robin had a ton of love in him. He personally did so much for so many people. He made Matt and my dreams come true,” Affleck wrote on Facebook, referring to his “Good Will Hunting” co-star Matt Damon. “What do you owe a guy who does that? Everything. May you find peace my friend. #RobinWilliams,” he added.
Matt Damon also released a comment on the passing of his co-star: “Robin brought so much joy into my life and I will carry that joy with me forever. He was such a beautiful man. I was lucky to know him and I will never, ever forget him.”
Nathan Lane, Williams’ co-star in ‘Bird Cage’ commented: “I feel I have to say something more than just ‘heartbreaking and shocking’ which everyone has said and I feel as well, but something a little more personal. Thus the following: One day in 1995 while riffing in the character of a snobby French toy store owner, Robin made me laugh so hard and so long that I cried. It seemed to please him no end. Yesterday I cried again at the thought that he was gone.”
Sally Field, who starred alongside Williams in ‘Mrs Doubtfire’ said: “I feel stunned and so sad about Robin. I’m sad for the world of comedy. And so very sad for his family. And I’m sad for Robin. He always lit up when he was able to make people laugh, and he made them laugh his whole life long…. tirelessly. He was one of a kind. There will not be another. Please God, let him now rest in peace.”
Williams’ daughter, Zelda, posted a quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, the French writer and poet: “You – you alone will have the stars as no one else has them. … In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night. … You – only you – will have stars that can laugh.” She added, “I love you. I miss you. I’ll try to keep looking up.
According to recent statistics, two-thirds of people living with depression never seek treatment, even though 80% with clinical depression who seek treatment, through psychotherapy, medication, or both, do see improvement within a matter of weeks. If you or anyone you know suffers from depression urge them to seek help. Contact counsellors through www.helpfordepression.com
