The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s program director, John Draper, credits the increase in calls to all the publicity about the national hotline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255) – which was heavily promoted by the media. He says Williams’ suicide was “not so much creating distress as finding people in distress. The more people who are calling, the more lives will be saved.”
Robin Williams finding suicide to be the only way out really affected me. I sympathize so much and I know he was a strong person. After that tragety happened, I found myself asking some dark questions. I’ve been suicidal for most of my life. I don’t want to die though. And I thought I had worked my head around it. But I started to ask if it was a thing I should do myself. To find that way out. I thought about suicide a lot, for weeks and weeks. Slowly, I moved on.
When a celebrity commits suicide, it affects the world. And that is NOT on them. It was not his fault. He was suffering. But it IS the fault of shitty piss poor worldwide mental health facilities and a worldwide lack of programs to help at risk people.
Thank you to everybody who volunteers for these hotlines. You’re all literal angels.
