actor Robin Williams possible suicide

It's very sad about the plight of Robin Williams, but I always think how it must have affected those who are left behind and especially the person who found him.

They must feel angry, disappointed and heartbroken.

My brother did this. The first overwhelming emotion is shock. Then comes grief, then how could we have helped him more (although we tried but maybe not enough). There is also a stigma I'm afraid - could it be passed down through the generations.

A few people on the USA news have commented saying he was a coward to commit suicide and leave his daughters behind

It is true to say that depression is a selfish thing simply because it is all about you

But when you get to the state of suicide, ordinary reasoning like I will be leaving my family alone just goes out the window, you are not thinking straight.

Its just a shame that he had no one there to talk him out of it or help him to see reason when he did commit suicide

May he rest in Peace

How awful for you KatyK I hope it has not affected your life too much.

NanKate. Thank you. It was a long time ago. He was 24 poor lad.

I do think it's terribly judgemental to insist that anyone who commits suicide is either a coward or selfish, or both.

Those who do so are seeing things from the point of view of the bereaved, not the person who ended his or her own life because they could see no way out, and possibly really believed that their loved ones would be better off without them.

I don't think that a person in such a dark place would easily, if at all, be 'talked out of it' or 'helped to see reason'.

I have heard people say it's cowardly. I don't think it is - it's quite brave. I don't think I could do it, despite many traumas in my life. The balance of their mind is usually disturbed. They are not thinking even remotely logically.

I think the fact that someone who seems to have everything - successful career, respect of their peers, family and home still kills themself - shows that they are way beyond help and have become convinced that this is the only thing left. It is a terrible thing for the family, but in the end you cannot get right into someone else's mind.

could it be passed down through the generations

There was an interesting item on the news a couple of days ago about this. They believe that many character traits are inherited but even if you have inherited a certain gene, there is no reason to assume that gene will become active (think of families where one or two family members have been prone to substance abuse: drugs, alcohol - or gambling, aggression, etc) but not every member of that family is also prone to doing the same thing.

The current research is trying to see if it is possible to switch off those genes or, at least, moderate the effect they have on a person's behaviour; there is a long way to go yet though.

Apparently he was in the early stages of parkinsons disease.

It is true to say that depression is a selfish thing simply because it is all about you

tcherry what on earth gives you the right to make that comment!

Ana I agree with your post one hundred per cent.

My heart goes out to his family ...

I think the people who say it is a selfish act have not suffered from extreme depression.

I also think he had a mind which would not switch off, which came across in his work and interviews. I should imagine that is very tiring and frustrating and could probably cause anger plus a tendency to use drugs/drink to switch the mind off for a while. Other comedians suffered, Spike Milligan, Stephen Fry, possibly Eddie Izzard. All very intelligent people. they pay and have paid very highly for their talent. Spike Milligan wrote a book about depression, Stephen Fry has attempted suicide twice, thankfully unsuccessfully. Eddie Izzard says he does not suffer depression but his mind is extremely quick and must, at times, be hard to switch it off for peace. We all know what it is like to be around a young child for a time when they are chatting twenty to the dozen, think of your mind doing this all the time with no rest.

If his death has made one person stop and think about committing suicide, then he goes on helping people like he did in life, helping many charities in his time with us.

Secret Cinema and Mind together are putting on a screening of Dead Poets Society also with an In Memoriam of Robin's work along with poems, live music and performances with special guests. All profits going to MIND.

He was a beautiful, caring, funny man with a twinkle in his eye that meant mischief in whatever he did. A seemingly perfectionist in his craft, wanting to get it right for his audience.

I, for one, will forever appreciate and love him, even though he is now entertaining the big man himself.

Just so pleased that this forum helps me to express my profound sorrow on hearing the death of Robin Williams. Perhaps discovering the onset of Parkinson's Disease just tipped him over the edge.

This man brought such joy whenever I watched him be it in a serious or comic role. Do you think he knew how funny he was? My favourite film of all is Good Morning Vietnam.

Why do we always lose such top performers this way?

Dear phoenix I have every right to comment in any way I choose to.

It is a free country and we all have right to speech

I notice you chose not to re type ALL of my comments but just that one line!!

Read it all before you judge in the manner of a Theatre critic..

And may I say what gives you the right to be so confrontational

This reminds me of earlier threads .e.g. the one about Amy Winehouse. It is sad when a talented and well-known figure takes his/her own life or dies as a result of some sort of substance abuse. It is right that those who admired that figure express their admiration for his her/her talent and sorrow that this talent will no longer bring new pleasure to the many admirers. However, it is bizarre that suddenly Gransnet seems to be packed with expert psychologists who specialise in depression and suicide and feel the need to make judgements about someone they don't know.

Those who have been bereaved as a result of another's suicide and those who have contemplated or even attempted suicide, who might well have useful insights, seem to have been far less ready to leap to judgement.