On the death of Robin Williams

Robin Williams Masks: Nick Anderson

It’s not hard to understand why the death of Robin Williams has touched our collective soul so deeply. The simple explanation is that Mr. Williams was a remarkable performer who dazzled us with his comedic brilliance and his dramatic talents. He was also, by all accounts, a genuinely kind and compassionate soul. Examples of the late comedian’s acts of kindness are well documented. From participation in philanthropic efforts such as Comic Relief to offering sensitive (and unpublicized) gestures to strangers, Robin Williams gave back to society in a real way. That, in and of itself, is enough to make his life and death newsworthy. But the death of this remarkable man has had an impact on us for another very important reason. It has brought the subject of depression and suicide into the national conversation in an unprecedented and very valuable way.

For those in the funeral industry, death is something that is faced every single day. It is the job of the funeral director to guide families in coping with their loss and help them navigate the ups and downs that come with the process of losing a loved one by his or her own hand. We can all imagine how difficult that must be. Never the less, this job is critical in helping the family, and by extension society, heal after such a loss.

With so much coverage of Mr. Williams’ death, it is unlikely that we can offer any new, substantive insights here. That said, we think the voice of the funeral industry is an important one to hear. So we are passing along several articles written on the topic by members of the funeral industry. Each presents a unique and important perspective. We invite our industry readers to offer their comments as well. We have also included links to several national suicide and depression resources. If they pertain at all to your own situation or to someone you know, we encourage you to explore them or pass them along.

WHAT DREAMS MAY COME by Ginny Clark

On a Facebook group I frequent for funeral professionals the issue of depression was brought up right after Robin’s death. It is a widely known fact that funeral professionals are among the biggest sufferers of depression because of the stresses of our work environment. It takes a really strong person to bear the burdens of their clients’ grief.

Read the full story: What Dreams May Come

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ON SUICIDE, MY EXPERIENCE AND ROBIN WILLIAMS by littlemissfuneral

I do not understand suicide. The reason I do not understand it, is because even in my darkest days I never was surrounded by so much pain that I saw death as the only option. And I am blessed that my depression never took me down that road. But I understand feeling lost. I understand sadness. I understand feeling alone. I also understand that life is constantly changing.

Read the full story: On Suicide…

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WHY I HURT FOR THE WILLIAMS FAMILY by Caleb Wilde

Celebrity deaths create the same dilemma. Grief that is meant to be private is watched and consumed by the public. Ideas, thoughts and feelings that are meant to be processed within the context of family and friends are now processed within the context of the public eye.

Read the full story: Why I Hurt