“You treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you, you’ll win, no matter what the outcome.”

I am not depressed. I’ve never been diagnosed with depression. Because of this I cannot speak to what life is like with depression and I certainly do not intend to do so. I am not a psychologist, therapist, doctor or any sort of professional who can speak on a scientific level about the subject, nor do I want to try. I’m merely a human trying to find a way to express my thoughts and feelings about mental illness, depression and suicide.

The passing of Robin Williams has received a lot of attention and rightfully so. He was a man who played so many roles that made us laugh, cry, ponder life and FEEL. Feel the emotion of a father desperate to spend time and connect with his children, a man trying to reconnect with the joy and imagination of childhood, an aspiring doctor who believed that laughter was a great (if not the best) medicine, and countless other characters that anyone with a shed of compassion and love in their heart could relate to. In hindsight, I believe his personal struggles with mental illness, which many people may have been unaware of, allowed him to connect with his characters on another level, making his performances masterpieces, from John Keating to the Genie.

The news of his suicide has once again brought the mental illness and suicide discussion to the forefront of peoples’ minds. I would imagine that to those struggling with depression and thoughts of suicide, people calling this tragedy a choice is disrespectful and ignorant. The truth is that nobody really knows why he would take his own life. Trying to speculate on his intentions and decision-making process is not only unfair to him, but more importantly, irrelevant. Nobody knows the thoughts running through his mind in his final moments except for him. No one has the right to judge or to call him selfish because doing so does nothing to help the next person.

I cannot say that I knew that he was depressed. In the last few days I’ve learned that he had recently checked himself into rehab in an effort to maintain sobriety. His struggles were none of my business and truly nobody else’s business except the people he chose to let in on his secrets. To me, the fact that I didn’t know about his battle with depression only speaks volumes towards the strength he had and the legacy we should acknowledge that he is leaving behind.

Mr. Williams was a man who had the gift of bringing joy to others’ lives so easily. He accomplished so much on the screen and gave so much to everyone around him: his friends, family, fans and community. He was passionate about acting, passionate about people and clearly wanted to be a positive influence on the world. He believed that making people laugh was an accomplishment in itself, and we all know he was one of the best at it.

“Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, The Marx Brothers. Comedy is a great art when it works. I’ve never seen anything funnier than Eddie Murphy in The Nutty Professor, that scene at the dinner table. That alone should get an award if you are just talking about sheer funny but they are always talking about “well, is it meaningful?’ Well, sure it’s meaningful if you come out and you had a great laugh”

You may choose to let his suicide and mental illness be how you remember him. Or you can look at all of his successes, accolades and the immeasurable laughs and warm feelings he brought to the world DESPITE his illness. I honestly think he should be considered a role model and one of the faces of the mental health discussion. He struggled for decades with his illness and still did so much to have a positive impact. We should be praising him for the example he’s been, for showing the world that someone dealing with depression and addiction can still be a light in the world to others, even if he can’t be that light for himself.

As the mental health discussion continues in the coming days, I would encourage people to consider reaching out to someone who may be struggling. Be the light for someone else who may need one at this very moment. Listen to people, empathize, be human. Become familiar with the warning signs of suicide so you can hopefully recognize when someone may be crying out for help. More importantly, if you are someone struggling with depression or suicide, please get help. There are a lot of resources, hotlines and people who are willing to listen and help. I beg you to reach out to me, if no one else, before doing something drastic.

“My battles with addiction definitely shaped how I am now. They really made me deeply appreciate human contact. And the value of friends and family, how precious that is”

Robin Williams was not a child (with regards to age) who had his whole life ahead of him. He had already created so much for us to remember him by, and undoubtedly could’ve done so for many years to come. I hope his life can motivate us to maintain a constant discussion of mental health throughout the future. If his passing can inspire people to press on, to overcome their struggles and find a way to have a positive impact in the world, or if it encourages even one person to seek help, I believe he’ll be looking down from the front row seats in heaven with that beautiful smile on his face.

“To quote from Whitman:

‘Oh me! Oh life! …of the questions of these recurring,

Of the endless trains of the faithless–of cities fill’d with the foolish;

…What good amid these, O me, O life?

                                      Answer.

That you are here—that life exists and identity,

That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.’

What will your verse be?”

-Robin Williams as John Keating in Dead Poet’s Society

Thank you for your many verses Mr. Williams.