In the aftermath of Robin Williams death, I have been uncomfortable with many articles talking about how getting help can prevent suicide. While that is true for the majority of people, I believe that the nature of severe mental illness like severe physical illness is to cause death. Some phases of depression, mania and other conditions remove sufferers ability to receive help. There is not always a cure. It seems disrespectful to the people who die from mental illness to ignore this sad reality. While we always seek to learn from tragedy, It can be misguided for helping professionals, family members and friends to think that they could have done something. This type of postmortem analysis can be deeply wounding and disrespectful to loved ones mourning deaths related to mental illness. That being said, we can do a lot more to decrease stigma, improve care and use the many technologies we have to assist those who are suffering. I hope I am not alone with these reactions. Having a father with Bipolar Disorder has taught me a great deal about the power of the illness over good intentions, love and all that would seek to stop it. ~Liz Brenner, LICSW, Director, Therapy Training Boston
Posted on: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 20:00:01 +0000
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