We Don’t Talk About Mental Illness In My Family

“We don’t talk about mental illness in my family. Rather, we wish we didn’t have to. When we do, it’s the folk sickness that twines its way through my maternal lineage like ivy. We speak of it in whispers, though everyone’s been treated for it at some point, Prozac and Zoloft and Lexapro all the[…]

Suicide kills one person worldwide every 40 seconds, WHO report finds

“The WHO wants all countries to have a national suicide prevention strategy, which must include reducing access to the means of suicide. Also important are responsible reporting of suicides by the media to avoid the risk of inspiring copycat attempts, alcohol policies, care for people suffering from mental and substance use disorders, chronic pain and[…]

Men and Depression: Helping a Friend Un-Mask His Mask

“When it comes to symptoms of depression, the code of masculinity complicates matters. Usually, the result is what’s called male-type or masked depression. For a man, the traditional symptoms of depression are deemed atypical. Men often “externalize” their symptoms — anger or irritability, risk-taking (such as gambling) and substance abuse.” Read the Full Story Source:[…]

Robin Williams, Connectedness and the Need to End the Stigma Around Mental Illness

“Since suicide is the ultimate act of disconnection — from society, from community, from friends and family — it’s not surprising that connection is a powerful roadblock to suicide. We’re creatures of connection. We’re hardwired for it. It’s a fundamental human need. So it’s worth noting that this deadly phenomenon that we know is caused,[…]

Every 13 minutes a Robin Williams

“I say that it is our collective responsibility to advocate for mental health because those that suffer from a mental illness may not have the ability to understand what is happening to them nor do they have the ability to think in a “rational” manner. Additionally, doctors do not always know how to properly diagnose[…]

There’s Nothing Selfish About Suicide

“People who say that suicide is selfish always reference the survivors. It’s selfish to leave children, spouses and other family members behind, so they say. They’re not thinking about the survivors, or so they would have us believe. What they don’t know is that those very loved ones are the reason many people hang on[…]

Deadly Stigma: Robin Williams’ Suicide Exposes Silent Epidemic

“The alarming part, say researchers, is that suicide remains an untamed cause of death. Heart disease, cancer, HIV, most infectious diseases, almost every kind of accident: they’re all in relatively steep decline, while suicide floats along, or even rises.” Read the Full Article Source: NBC News

Robin Williams’s death: a reminder that suicide and depression are not selfish

“However, despite the tremendous amount of love and admiration for Williams being expressed pretty much everywhere right now, there are still those who can’t seem to resist the opportunity to criticize, as they do these days whenever a celebrated or successful person commits suicide. You may have come across this yourself; people who refer to[…]