As people remember Robin Williams, conversation also turns to mental health issues
Posted August 12, 2014 6:46 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – He could tickle our funny bones and touch our hearts in equal measure.
Tributes continue to pour in for Robin Williams, who died yesterday at the age of 63 of an apparent suicide. His publicist says Williams was battling severe depression. An autopsy is scheduled for today.
Williams is being remembered as a comic genius, who wasn’t afraid to poke fun at his personal struggles. His death has kick-started a big conversation about the struggles people who suffer from mental health face.
Dr. Chris Gorman, president of the BC Psychiatric Association, says mood disorders are very common among people with strong personalities. He tells us thoughts of suicide can become more common with age.
“You’re seeing your value go down, even though it’s not going down. You think ‘I’ve raised the kids, I’ve made a good living, maybe I’m in the twilight of my life.’ Or the episodes can get more severe with age.”
He says in the case of Williams, who was often considered the funnyman, comedy can actually lead to the opposite effect. “They can look okay. They can laugh while they feel awful. Now, there’s a point where that cannot occur. But usually, when that starts to happen, you get more social withdrawal.”
Gorman says something that’s under emphasized in the discussion surrounding mental health is there’s often a connection between it and brilliant creativity.
This morning, #RIPRobinWilliams was trending worldwide on Twitter.
If you have suicidal thoughts, you can call the BC-wide 24-hour crisis hotline at 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433). Click here for more crisis resources.
