Death by Suicide

Robin Williams’ death by suicide has caused an outpouring of love from the public. He brought laughter to the world as a comedian and he will be greatly missed. How could this man who made us laugh be so unhappy that he would take his life?

Ninety percent of all people who die by suicide are suffering from a mental illness. Most often, it is depression. Robin Williams had several factors that may have placed him at risk for suicide: substance abuse history, recent heart surgery which can cause post-op depression with unexpected and uncontrollable crying, and a current medical condition of Parkinson’s disease. Depression is a common mood disorder for patients with Parkinson’s.

Suicide happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain. One study by Dr. David Rosen, a psychiatrist, conducted interviews of nine people who survived “near fatal” suicide attempts. He found that none of them truly wanted to die. These nine survivors had wanted their inner pain to stop; they wanted some measure of relief; and this was the only answer they could find. Suicide is sometimes the only apparent solution one can find for life’s difficulties. People who contemplate suicide may have financial loss or trouble with the law. They may have adversities such as unemployment, serious relationship conflict, harassment or bullying. They may have been exposed to another’s person’s suicide which can lead to copy cat behavior. They may have easy access to lethal methods of suicide.

There are some people who carefully plan methods for taking their lives. There are also those individuals who act impulsively, with little forethought involved. In the first case, there are often warning signs. In the latter case, there is no warning. They will turn to whatever means are immediately available, those that are quick and easy.

Protective factors for suicide prevention include receiving effective mental health treatment; positive connections to family and friends, and the skills and ability to solve problems. The ability to cope or solve problems reduces the chance that a person will become overwhelmed, depressed or anxious.

If you suspect someone is considering suicide, don’t be afraid to ask them. People don’t suddenly consider suicide just because someone asks them about it. Ask if they are thinking of taking their lives. Determine if they have a plan, and if they have the means to enact the plan. If so, get them immediate help by calling the police or taking them to a hospital.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is an excellent resource if you or someone you know is at risk for suicide. You can find them at www.afsp.org. Their phone number is 800-273-8255.