Robin Williams RIP: Coping Mechanism?

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So, I am no Psych. nurse but I always found it interesting. What interests me about some of the people who are most depressed is that they are the ones who always seem to be making others laugh like Robin Williams. Is this some kind of coping mechanism? Of course, I don't know much about the man except what I have seen on TV but I have seen this in people in my personal life too. People that seem to be big cut ups and always joking. I would never have thought depression.

Specializes in Pedi.
The anti gluten crowd is already blaming gluten, saying both diseases are caused by it, ergo, I suppose Robin Williams was killed by pasta. 

https://graph.facebook.com/thedr.com.english/photos/a.463219403709363.108915.180887411942565/794560673908566/?type=1

In case that link doesn't work, it's on TheDr.Com's page.

See, to me, this kind of nonsense trivializes the severity of mental illness. I'm on a bit of a rampage this week about the lack of understanding about mental illness and the way we treat the mentally ill. This cartoon describes it pretty well:

If we treated all illnesses the way we treat mental illness | Halfway Between The Gutter And The Stars

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I've seen that cartoon before, and it's spot on. Somehow I can't see society saying to my husband "Geez, will you stop griping about your pancreatic cancer? Get OVER yourself!!" :no: Yet that same society would have no problem whatsoever telling me to "snap out of" my bipolar illness. I've been on a bit of a rant about that sort of thing myself lately; I've heard the snide remarks about Robin Williams (and people who suffer from mental illness in general) from various talking heads and Facebook posters, and it just infuriates me.

Our culture does not get it, does not WANT to get it, and people suffer and die every day from lack of good mental health care. Until, of course, a famous person commits suicide and society starts paying attention.....for about five minutes. This will all blow over in a matter of another week or so, and then we'll go back to worrying about what the stupid Kardashians are up to. And it's too bad, because there's never been a better time to have a dialogue about MI and how it affects everyone. Even if you don't carry a mental health diagnosis yourself, you almost certainly know someone who does, or are indirectly affected by a friend or family member who struggles with MI.

According to statistics, one out of four Americans has a diagnosable mental illness. Many of them go UNdiagnosed because of the shame and stigma. That's a LOT of people to sweep under the rug. I won't hold my breath for it, but I hope Robin Williams' suicide will finally make people realize that MI doesn't just affect the "crazy lady" who stands on the street corner yelling at trashcans. Sometimes it affects our best and brightest. But all lives matter, including that of the aforementioned "crazy lady". And that's what America has yet to understand.

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I live with someone who is schizophrenic and it is ver hard on everyone especially since he won't stay on his meds. My friends mom is dealing with MI. She has been diagnosed with bipolar, schizophrenia and multiple personalities. I see him struggle with helping her everyday. I thank god everyday that I was not born with a MI. I also just found out my father was diagnosed with Parkinson's. If I could have helped him in any way I would have. He brought the world sooo much laughter and happiness. He will be missed. I do wish I could have helped him. Now he can give heaven some laughter and happiness. Does anyone have a fav movie he was in? I loved him in Aladdin amongst many others.

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Specializes in critical care.
See, to me, this kind of nonsense trivializes the severity of mental illness. I'm on a bit of a rampage this week about the lack of understanding about mental illness and the way we treat the mentally ill. This cartoon describes it pretty well:

If we treated all illnesses the way we treat mental illness | Halfway Between The Gutter And The Stars

Agreed. The whole Facebook gluten post reads like a shameless tactic to get people on the gluten-free train. It's as though "Robin Williams" is the buzzword to use to gain hits and shares. I don't say that to trivialize celiac disease, of course, but come on! Let's talk about important things that ACTUALLY pertain to what happened.

It's sad to hear details coming out. I shared a post on Facebook about how a person who commits suicide isn't a coward. It was deep and thought provoking stuff. A friend who just lost her husband to ALS 2 months ago said that she struggled to reconcile the choice of suicide when there are people who fight so hard to stay alive. Knowing the pain she experienced with that loss, I had no response for her. The two losses are so tragic, how could I?

If I were diagnosed with a lifelong condition that would eventually result in being dependent on family, friends, and/or expensive skilled nursing care just to survive, I can honestly say I would consider getting my affairs in order and waiting until I knew my life was at that tipping point to choose to leave this earth. Was his diagnosis of Parkinson's too much to handle? The family has reported since the moment the news was released that his sobriety was intact, and his stay in rehab was to maintain that sobriety. He had fight in him. He tried. Hard, it seems.

Of course, this is all speculation. Maybe it was a change in medications. Understanding the relationship between Parkinson's disease and dopamine, and addiction and dopamine, it makes me wonder how that relationship affected things. Anyone here with a good understanding of dopamine have thoughts on this?

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These truth seeking discussions are invaluable. Wherever we see insensitivity to another's pain i immediately wonder what demons are they fighting?

I will NEVER think that trivializing someone's pain is ok or even using it as a defense is justiifiation, but i have a need to understand the behavior.

As we muttle through all these feelings, thoughts in the wake of another tragedy, we get yet another opportunity not to bury or write off what is happening in our society about MH, and how we deal or not deal with these issues in our intimate circles.

Thank you for posts that render challenging insight and provoke harder questions to be asked.

Peace

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Specializes in ICU, neuro ICU.
I am very sad about this. I work with dying children and, most of the time, I don't cry when they pass on. For some reason, mostly because it was a suicide, this is really getting to me. I do not think that we, as a society, talk enough about mental health, depression, suicide prevention. ALS is getting a ton of attention right now thanks to the ice bucket challenge and about 5600 people in the US are diagnosed with it every year. (I am not saying ALS doesn't deserve the attention it's getting, I consider ALS to be the worst disease there is and I'm glad awareness is being spread.) On the other hand, close to 40,000 people in the US commit suicide every year and we don't talk about it. And 16 million adults (or 6.9% of the population) experience an episode of major depression every year (according to NIMH). I read somewhere else that a majority of people with depression (up to 80%) receive no treatment for it. We can do better.

We have a family friend who recently died from ALS and this ice bucket challenge is literally putting me on edge. If I believed people actually cared and weren't just doing it for social media "look how good of a person I am" attention it would be one thing, but I worry that it is for all the wrong reasons. I agree, ALS is horribly nasty (we saw first hand), but why ALS? Why NOW? This disease was discovered in the 30's.

So many diseases (like depression, if you will consider it as such) affect so many more people, yet where is the ice bucket challenge to raise money for their medical bills?

Also, does anyone know what this money is actually doing for research? I tried to find out and got pretty vague answers (from the ALS website).

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

ALS is a tragic, horrible illness which is ultimately fatal. I hope all the money that's been raised via the ice-bucket challenge will go directly to research, and hopefully a cure. I also hope that ALL kinds of cancer (not just breast cancer) will garner the attention and the funding they deserve as well. I thank God for the medicines that are keeping my husband's pancreatic CA under control, and am grateful for the research and development that went into those drugs because he would not be here today without them.

But mental illness is lethal too, and tens of thousands of people die from suicide every year. Who's running a benefit for us?

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

maybe we should start a benefit for us

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I agree with Whispera about starting a benefit for us. We have to begin somewhere.

Fear is like an univited guest that we can not bring our selves to ask it to leave. But courage is

walking up to fear, looking it suare in the face and saying, "you are not welcome HERE and it is time for you to go ".

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

so, friends, what should we do?

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
so, friends, what should we do?

There is a walk next month in my area for suicide prevention next month; that is a good start to support a mental health cause.

Next in October there is mental health awareness week and I believe there is depression screening in October as well; one can make sure the information is presented and distributed in the work place.

And another thing is to wear a green ribbon:

http://www.greenribbon.ie/about-the-green-ribbon

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
so, friends, what should we do?

I participate in NAMI Walks:

Welcome to NAMIWalks | NAMIWalks

I also try to get involved in my local NAMI's events:

NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness - Mental Health Support, Education and Advocacy

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