After losing a close friend of mine to suicide last month and seeing the recent coverage of Robin Williams death it saddens me that the only time we have a meaningful dialogue about mental illness and suicide is when it happens to a celebrity. People die by suicide every day. Millions more suffer from depression or other mental illnesses. These are our friends, lovers, children, parents. Why do we only talk about it during the overly publicized and sensationalized aftermath of a celebrity committing suicide? Chances are someone you know is suffering from depression or another mental illness, and someone you know may be thinking about suicide. These things dont just happen in movies or to celebrities. And they are things we need to have open honest conversations about. We need to remove the stigma and taboo surrounding suicide and depression. If you know someone suffering, reach out to them. Let them know they are not alone. Do not judge them. Show some compassion and understand that unless you are battling the same things, you cannot understand what they are going through.
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 22:45:29 +0000