August 13
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Honoring Robin Williams
By: Terra Clarke Olsen
Two days ago, the world lost a bright light. Robin William’s death stunned the world, and many people, myself included, had the same reaction: “No. No, this can’t be real. It’s a fake report….it has to be….” But then more and more news sources started reporting it, and the reality and sadness started to sink in.
I’ve never been one that’s emotionally affected by celebrities or their lives. But Williams was different. He touched so many lives in so many ways, known and unknown. He was one of those souls you were thankful existed for he truly made the world a brighter and better place.
Like many people my age, my first memories of Williams are from his performance as the Genie in Aladdin. And it seems silly, but that character made a huge influence on me and many other kids. The Genie was caring and honest, but not without his troubles, much like Williams.
Williams wasn’t a “perfect” man. He struggled with addiction and inner demons. He was human. But he was a good man. Many people forget that being a good person doesn’t mean being perfect—it means caring for your fellow human. Williams embodied this ideology, something clear even from the little I knew about his life. And the past few days have made that even more apparent. The stories circling around the internet, from celebrities like Norm Macdonald and to ‘regular folk’ like you and me, such as this heartwarming story on imgur, have proven how caring and genuine of a person Williams was throughout this life. He was a man who truly wanted to make other people happy. Yet, even with all the happiness he brought the world, he struggled with his own happiness. And perhaps the most heartbreaking thing out of all of this is the fact that Williams died of suicide.
Suicide, of all things, it had to be suicide.
In the past, Williams discussed depression and it’s seriousness, urging people to seek help.
People who haven’t been depressed often dismiss the serious nature of the illness. My hope is that with this tragic loss, people begin to realize that mental illness is not a joke. It does not discriminate—it can affect anyone. Even a man who played one of the most beloved characters of all time.*
I hope you will join me in honoring Williams’ memory by striving to treat people with at least half the decency he showed his fellow man, and to fight for more resources for those struggling with depression and any other mental illness.**
And if you need help, please reach out. You’re not alone. Call 1-800-SUICIDE or 1-800- 273-TALK .
*I’ve been seeing an image of the Genie hugging Aladdin, with people adding in “Genie, you’re free.” STOP. This is glorifying suicide and is harmful. Williams was not ‘freed’ from his suicide. Suicide was the tragic outcome from a serious disease, depression. Please educate yourself on depression more before making such outrageous claims.
**I strongly urge you to write your local officials demanding more resources for those who suffer from mental illness. Perhaps get involved with your local National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Beautifully written post. The death of Robin Williams is so utterly tragic. Hopefully in the future we as a world can erase the stigma of depression and suicide, and get people suffering the help that they need.
You make a good point.
Just because they posted “Genie, youre free ” doesnt mean they were glorifying suicide. Stop being so goddamn judgemental. If you had waited for the rest of the details to come out, you would have also learned that his wife made a press release that he had recently been diagnosed with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Who are you to decide how long someone’s journey in life should be? Physician Assisted “Suidide” is only legal in Oregon and you have to be a legal resident of that state for a year before you can apply for PAS AND THEN you have to be evaluated by THREE separate psychiatrists to assess for capacity to make medical decisions, and two physicians, and THEN you have to wait 15 days after THAT before you actually go through with the process JUST IN CASE you change your mind. You also have to notify your family during this 380 period so that all of your affairs are in order. MAYBE Robin Williams just didnt want to be a medical guinea pig being on depression medications AND Parkinsons meds , especially since he was diagnosed at age 63 and not earlier in life. I know , I am a nurse and I have a patient in their late 50’s who was diagnosed several years ago and their synptoms are severe despite being on Parkinsons meds. Maybe he wanted to be remembered how he was and not how Parkinsons would make him. Maybe he wanted to end his life with QUALITY OVER QUANTITY. THINK ABOUT THAT.
And before you jump on the suicide/depression bandwagon with me , I know all about that , too. Not just because I am a nurse, but also because I was diagnosed with Bipolar II depression two years ago after I decidedI was going to jump off a bridge and kill myself. So in no way shape or form do I condone glorifying suicide, but I think you are taking Robin Williams’ fans messages to him via this picture out of hand.