Impact of Robin Williams Death Widespread
Prince George, B.C. – The death of Robin Williams has sent a ripple around the world. Fans and friends are shocked and saddened by his passing, and shocked because of the way he died.
Suicide remains one of the subjects people are reluctant to discuss says Sandra Boulianne, Program Coordinator for the Crisis Prevention, Intervention and Information Centre for Northern B.C. “People don’t want to seem weak.” She says that’s why people call a Crisis line, “They want to talk to people who don’t know them, they want to talk freely about the pain they are going through. Maybe they are thinking about taking their life, and there is no shame in that, but there is an idea in society that people are selfish if they want to take their own life.”
She was faced with questions about Robin Williams death from her teenage children last evening after news of Williams’ death became public “They wanted to know why would someone like Robin Williams take his own life? It was an opportunity to talk about the fact suicide can affect all types of people, in fact, the number of lives lost through suicide each year exceeds the number of deaths due to homicide and war combined.”
A couple of years ago, her centre made the impact of suicide visual, with a display of 109 pairs of shoes. Each pair represented a life lost to suicide from 2001 to 2010 in Prince George.
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(at right, shoe display -250News archive)
She says people were shocked to see that so many had died in that manner. The reality of the number of suicide deaths is, most often, shielded from the public as media outlets don’t normally cover such stories. It has been proven that publishing stories about suicidal deaths can lead to what is called “Suicide contagion” where publicity about one such death can spur others to follow suit.
Boulianne says there will be an afternoon symposium in Prince George on September 10th, World Suicide Prevention Day. The symposium will have a theme of Suicide Prevention: One World Connected. It will bring together all the agencies who can offer assistance and information on coping with depression and mental health issues. That symposium will take place at the Prince George Native Friendship Centre from 1-4.
Boulianne says there are signs of depression and some who are suicidal may also exhibit some signs. Here are some of those signs:
Depression:
- Feeling of hopelessness
- Withdrawal from friends and activities
- Tired
- Mood changes
Suicide:
- Changes in behaviour, such as increased use of alcohol or drugs, decrease in eating,
- Decrease in self care
- Negative outlook
- Mood changes,
- Giving warnings such as saying goodbye, jokes poems and art about suicide
- Giving away prized possessions
“There are times in everybody’s life where we feel hopeless and don’t know where to turn, but this (Crisis Centre) is a safe place” says Boulianne "The death of Robin Williams is a tragedy, but it is also an opportunity to talk about depression and suicide."
The Crisis Line is operated 24/7 by trained volunteers who are there to offer an empathetic ear to any crisis. The number in Prince George is 250-563-1214, or 1-888-562-1214 in Northern BC.
The Youth Line number is 250-564-8336 (TEEN), locally, or 1-888-564-8336 for Northern BC. There is also an online chat at www.northernyouthonline.ca
And the province-wide suicide prevention line is 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433).
Comments
and sometimes the monkey gets to hard to carry……my condolences to each and everyone that has taken their lives…hope you all Rest in Peace.
I hope Robin Williams’ passing wakes people up to how devastating depression can be. He literally had it all, right from birth. He was born with a silver spoon and all the advantages. He had numerous accomplishments in his loved field of acting, and enough money to live life 15 times over.
Yet there he was, the saddest clown at the circus.
“O’ Captain, my Captain.”
Oh please…
Good Morning Vietnam… and my favorite; Good Will Hunting, Awakening was good as well.
Rest in Peace Robin Williams, rest in peace!
I think he would agree with me when I say it was a little selfish to take the spotlit away from the genocide taking place in Iraq. He probably should have waited for another day, told another joke, and we wouldn’t be talking about this now. A little bit of procrastination could have saved more than one life.
Selfish? You’ve got to be kidding…
Told another joke? Took the spotlight away?
Please educate yourself about depression and suicide, you may be able to save a life one day yourself.
Posted by: Eagleone on August 12 2014 11:09 PM
I think he would agree with me when I say it was a little selfish to take the spotlit away from the genocide taking place in Iraq. He probably should have waited for another day, told another joke, and we wouldn’t be talking about this now. A little bit of procrastination could have saved more than one life.
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Interesting comment in a news story about mental health issues.
Headline from the Globe and Mail…
“The death of Robin Williams has given a voice to a silent killer. The question is: Are we listening?”
Apparently Eagleone isn’t. Fingers in the ears going la la la la la.
I’m sorry, did Williams cure cancer somewhere along the way? Enough already.
Eagleone….ah nevermind. Hit the nail on the head Pylot!
LeroyJenkins… does Comic Relief ring a bell? He co-hosted the non-profit fundraiser 6 times (for free), which was held to help the homeless and health care for the disadvantaged in the USA.
Here’s a list of all the charities Robin Williams was involved in.
Aid Still Required
American Foundation for AIDS Research
Amnesty International
Andre Agassi Foundation for Education
Augie’s Quest
Bob Woodruff Foundation
Celebrity Fight Night Foundation
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
Comic Relief
David Foster Foundation
Doctors Without Borders
Dogs Deserve Better
Dream Foundation
Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation
Heifer International
International Medical Corps
Keep Memory Alive
LIVESTRONG
Love Our Children USA
Luke Neuhedel Foundation
Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center
MusiCares
Prince’s Rainforests Project
Prince’s Trust
Robert F Kennedy Memorial
Smile Train
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
UNICEF
I’m quite sure that even with his serious mental condition, he was a far better person than you, Eagleone or WeakSauce would ever dream to be.
Eagleone? And also a few of you others. The guy was a good man,and died because he was desperately sad. So what he made piles of money. If he was a middle income person would it still be ok to make light of his death. The media normally does not cover suicide unless they are famous, yet it happens regularly in Prince George. Everyone is important and should feel valued.
Again and again, Eagleone is a complete jackass.
I guess all the suicide apologists are out today. Mental health problems or not, there is nothing to glorify here. Its just a sad end to an otherwise great life and I don’t see any words of wisdom worthy of enlightenment coming out of this.
Maybe the media can print a how to manual as well and it can trend on twitter….
Wow, Eagleone, it must be amazing to be so perfect and pious as yourself. We should all be mirrors of perfection unto you.
Well I know people that have taken their lives and there is nothing cool about it or the legacy they leave behind.
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