Soapbox

 I have thought about writing about this for the last 24 hours and while my stance may be harsh, it is not a series of offhand remarks. I am all to aware of the damage of mental illness.

I was saddened to read about the death of Robin Williams yesterday, and have read a lot about him and people's reactions, over the last 24 hours. Most of the articles provide a Suicide Prevention Hotline at the end, and this has presented itself numerous times on Facebook today.

While I applaud the individual authors of these articles and the news organizations in which they represent, I am as always disappointed to hear that a celebrity death is needed to put a face on a disease that is so pervasive in our society.

While many people say that Robin Williams was a comedic genius, and there is no denying he was, I have yet to read anything about his battle with mental illness aside from a brief statement presented by his manager. He battled the demons of addiction and over the years was very candid about it, in so far that it was a part of his stand up comedy.

However, aside from passing mentions of depression, the obvious desperation and loss of will to live was never discussed.

I do not speak of this lightly, as those of you who know me can attest. Mental illness shows no favoritism. It attacks all races, religions, all levels on the economic line. It attacks women, men, children. It shows no remorse for demolishing a carefully constructed life. Mental illness is dangerous in that we do not know enough about it and its many mutations to defend ourselves against it. While we have access to care in Canada, at no cost in most cases, those that are the most vulnerable - those without a support system or those that are so ill, do not even know what the first step is to finding the care that is so desperately needed.

We do not judge others for having Cancer or Diabetes. In fact, in some small part of our hearts we pity those that are afflicted with these physical diseases. However, those with mental illness are often judged, shunned and therefore suffer in silence while a disease every bit as deadly as Cancer slowly eats them up. Robin Williams is proof that mental illness can be deadly, for even with a loving family, friends, money and what seems from the outside to be a good life, he could not stop himself from giving up. He has left behind, a wife, children and friends, who have quickly spoken out about the kind, generous and funny man he was, but I have not read anything about the help he was given to combat his depression.

So while I think it is wonderful that the Suicide Prevention Number has been listed, why don't we do what really needs to be done? Talk about it, provide answers, solutions, help. Donate our money to research on this front. For I wonder if those looking in on this tragedy, who don't have the fame or fortune are now questioning their own lives. If he couldn't make it, how can they?

The fact is, if you do not suffer from anxiety, depression or another form of metal illness, you can be damn sure you know someone who does. And you can be sure they struggle in silence much of the time for fear that everything they say or do will be measured against a "ruler of instability". So I ask you, I plead with you, I beg of you, it is better to ask, assist, listen, talk, then to question what could have been done after the fact.