There is so much sadness all over the internet today–as well as ignorance about mental illness and suicide–for me and for many who have either lost loved ones or who struggle themselves, it’s really hard to read. The loss of a beloved public figure like Robin Williams is heartbreaking. We all feel as though we knew him. He spoke publicly about his own struggles with depression, and I know we all hoped that he would beat the odds.
We hope that we will beat the odds.
We can and we WILL if we take care of ourselves at times like these.
All off this can be very triggering, so it’s more than OK to avoid the news if it’s effecting you. Everyone, please be gentle with yourselves, and if you’re struggling, please reach out. To me, to a friend, to a family member or even the lifeline 800-273-TALK (8255) http://
I have so many thoughts swirling around my head since I the media deluge began. And mostly I just want to avoid these thoughts because they don’t make me happy (so this will be short.) Incidents like these remind me of how often suicide happens and how much it is ignored. A person dies by suicide every 13-14 minutes in our country, but it’s only when a celebrity dies that we all take up the call. I get it, I do. But each an every one of the 35,000+ people who died last year deserve this kind of outcry. This is a public health crisis in our country and around the world that is ignored and misunderstood.
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death, and it is a death that is preventable with proper treatment.
The majority of those who die by suicide have mental illness, not a character flaw.
And treatment exists. It’s not simple and it’s not easy, but our lives and the lives of those we love are worth the fight.
It is up to each of us to try an recognize the signs in others and help them reach out.
A final note to MEDIA: Stop freaking reporting the method of suicides. You are hurting people. You are triggering those who are suffering. You are possibly causing additional deaths or suicide contagion. The person(s) who die deserve some modicum of privacy too, even public figures. PLEASE take these Media Recommendation for Reporting on Suicide to heart.
