Sometimes you just don’t know how much pain someone is in until it is too late.
On Monday the world was shocked to learn of the tragic passing of beloved comedian and actor Robin Williams, who took his own life.
Williams had a well-documented battle for years with drugs and alcohol, but seemingly beat his demons and was 20 years sober before a relapse a few years ago. He was seeking treatment for depression and, sadly, we will probably never know just how much pain he was in. For someone apparently at the top with fame and fortune to die this way is so sad.
But maybe there can be a positive outcome from Williams’ death. Maybe this will start a much more broad-scope discussion about mental illness, how we as a society treat people with mental illness and how to ensure that proper care and attention are given.
According to the volunteer-based Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of B.C., in the past three decades, more than 100,000 Canadians died by suicide.
Of the 82 countries reporting suicide statistics to the World Health Organization, Canada ranks 26th, putting it in the top third. B.C.’s suicide rates average roughly 500 per year.
Clearly more needs to be done to end the stigma that surrounds mental illness.
We are fortunate to have mental health columnist Hugh Macaulay, who, during the past few years, has shone a bright light on this topic.
He comes from past experiences dealing with mental health issues and advocates through his role as vice-president of the Arrowhead Clubhouse in Sechelt.
In his column on Aug. 8, Hugh outlined his plans to present a five-part series relying on the input of our community, so we can get a better understanding of the issues that so many are facing.
Talking about a mental health issue is not an easy task. Many are ashamed. Many don’t want to seek help or treatment. Many don’t know how to seek help or treatment.
We can’t thank Hugh enough for suggesting this series, and we hope our community will embrace his efforts. We know we won’t get all the answers, but hopefully, we can get some of them — and along the way help someone get the help and support they need that could turn their life around.
You can reach Hugh at his confidential email at [email protected]
