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28 March 2024

Lessons from Robin Williams’ death: How to spot signs, and where to get help

In this December 16, 2010 US Department of Defense(DoD) handout photo, US actor and comedian Robin Williams smiles as he looks out at the crowd of Service members assembled for the USO Holiday Tour at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan . Few were more stunned and saddened by Robin Williams' death than the US servicemen and women he loved to entertain, be it on the frontlines or by their hospital beds. Williams has taken part in no fewer than six USO entertainment tours since 2002, the military charity said August 12, 2014, delighting nearly 90,000 troops across 13 countries including Afghanistan and Iraq. "Robin was a gifted actor and comedian, but he was also a true friend and supporter of our troops," said Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in a statement. (AFP)

Published
By Bindu Rai

“I get bummed” is how Robin Williams described his mental state back in 2006 during an interview on NPR radio show when asked by Terry Gross if he was ever diagnosed with clinical depression.

As Hollywood lost another great on Monday, with the tragic and alleged suicide of the much-loved comic genius, Williams’ death revealed the ugly head of that fame monster once again, coupled with the actor’s own personal battle with depression over the years.

The 63-year-old’s struggles started back in the 1980s, with drug and alcohol addiction keeping him firmly in its grasp until Williams quit after the 1982 overdose death of his friend and fellow comedian, John Belushi.

However, the relapse came in 2003, followed by several stints in rehab over the last decade.

Williams, who told Gross that he never had been formally
diagnosed with clinical depression or bipolar disorder, may have battled silently on with the condition, coupled with the stress of fame and addiction.

Speaking about prolonged stress and fame being possible key factors in depression for people in living in the spotlight, Dr Lavina Ahuja, a Personal Development Consultant at the Dubai-based LifeWorks, a personal development and self-awareness centre, said: “Stress over a prolonged period can play havoc on a person’s physical and mental state. This especially rings true for those who lead lives in the spotlight.

“They can suffer from extreme anxiety about personal appearance, being judged and leaving themselves exposed to people to express opinions. This negativity can sometimes lead up to a depressive state of mind.”
Warning signs of depression

Williams is not the first actor to commit suicide, with history bearing witness to the deaths of famous names including ‘Top Gun’ director Tony Scott in 2012, designer Alexander McQueen in 2010, INXS frontman Michael Hutchence in 1997 and Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain in 1994.

Cobain’s suicide came a month after the singer’s first attempt following months of touring for the album ‘In Utero’.
Dr Ahuja shed light on the correlation of depression and suicide, highlighting some of the warning signs that one may recognise in people suffering from the condition.

“An extreme form of depression can sometimes lead people to occupy their minds with thoughts of suicide,” she explained. “Extreme signs of hopelessness, no plans for the future, or finding a dark abyss waiting for them is the sort of thinking that are warning signs of a person at risk.”

She continued: “The timing is most critical for people in such extreme situations, because usually people will attempt suicide not when they are in the throes of depression but rather when they are feeling better because now they possess the energy to actually commit the act.”

Dr Ahuja stated that two common symptoms in such people that serve as warning signs include rapid changes in appetite and sleep patterns.

“If a person is eating too much suddenly or has a dramatic loss in appetite, coupled with sleeping constantly or suddenly becoming an insomniac, these are all signs to watch out for,” she added. “Other triggers include extreme boredom, a sense of worthlessness, thinking they are a burden and sudden mood changes.”

The doctor, who also volunteers her time locally at the Indian workers’ resource centre, a helpline run by the Indian Consulate in Dubai, said that there is an urgent need to have a 24|7 suicide helpline in countries today.

She added: “People need help. And even though a support system of family and friends plays an integral part in the recovery of someone suffering with depression, such battles should not be fought alone and without the help of someone who is professionally trained at helping such individuals.”