RIP Robin Williams

If a superstar like Robin Williams, who was by all accounts, intelligent, kind, inspirational, funny, rich, famous, and adored by fans the world over, couldn't just "get over" his depression. Maybe, just maybe, it was because he had a real disease that needed true medical attention and treatment... 

Mental illnesses such as major depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, PTSD, substance abuse, OCD, etc are "real" illnesses. They are diseases of the brain that often times have symptoms expressed as behaviors instead physical symptoms. Most people can usually empathize with physical symptoms such as a broken bone, or someone bleeding, or your stomach hurting. The symptoms of a mental illness are much harder to grasp if you are not the one suffering. A person suffering from a mental illness can not just get over it with some positive thinking. Just like a person with heart disease can't peep talk their way out of unclogging their arteries. In both examples, they are sick and need true medical help. But often times what happens is the individual suffering from a mental illness withdraws and feels the stigma from society, friends, family, and even the medical community. Combined with the atrocious mental health care system in the United States, it's a recipe for feelings of hopelessness and suicide.

I've seen posts from people that say, "if you are contemplating suicide get help." In most states, if you are admitted to the mental ward of the hospital, they will only keep you for 48 hrs if you are a danger to yourself or others. After which you'll be evaluated by a doctor, and if you have home and/or a family to stay with, you will more than likely be released to go home because the system is so broken; they can't keep you there any longer. Others are just released back into the streets and then more often than not, end up in jail or prison. We incarcerate people for being sick. That is the norm in this country. Getting help for diseases of the brain just isn't as easy as getting help for a broken bone... 

 

1 in 4 individuals is living with a mental illness. I hope to see the day where having a disease of your brain is given the same attention, empathy, and medical treatment as diseases that effect other organs of the body.

R.I.P. Robin Williams. You were one of the greats. One of my favorite memories growing up was going to the movies with my grandpa around Christmas time to see Mrs. Doubtfire. You helped make memories filled with laughter.