Darick T. Earney Staff Writer
The world of cinema has lost a number of great talents this year. Some of these include Lauren Bacall, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Harold Ramis, and most recently, Robin Williams.
Robin Williams passed on August 11 in his California home by hanging. He was discovered by his personal assistant, and the following day his body was cremated. His remains were scattered into the San Francisco Bay.
Although many know him as a comedic icon, Robin Williams had an acting range that expanded from drama
“No one performance epitomized the uniqueness that defined Robin Williams, but we will all remember the manic frenzy of his performance in Good Morning Vietnam, the caring therapist of Good Will Hunting and the inspired teacher of Dead Poet ‘s Society,” Lewis and Clark Professor, Jim Price said.
Some fans will always remember his lasting presence.
“I can’t believe he’s gone. There wasn’t a movie I had seen of his that didn’t make me smile,” Courtney Seitzinger, Business Management and Associates in Social Science major said.
In the aftermath of this tragedy, many across the world had begun to wonder how Robin Williams’s death would impact fans of the late actor’s work. One of those people, was Dr. Lanny Berman, senior advisor to the American Association of Suicidology.
NBC news’ website explains how Dr.Berman worries that the shock of Robin Williams’ death will cause an increase in suicides. He describes how those who suffer from depression could see Williams’ suicide as a trigger to commit the same act out of feelings of hopelessness.
Berman provides a list of warning signs to help others prevent their friends or loved ones from self-harm. Symptoms to be aware of are an increase in drug or alcohol consumption, showing excessive anger or rage, increase in risk taking behavior, etc.
It could be argued all day long about whether or not Robin Williams’s suicide will encourage others to do the same, but one thing is for sure, he will be greatly missed. He may be gone from the planet, but not from the hearts of his loyal fans. Nanu Nanu, Robin Williams.
For more information on suicide, or if you, or someone you know is currently having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255.
Information is also available through the website of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at http://www.afsp.org/
Contact Darick at dearney@lc.edu
Loneliness, loosing someone you truly love, withdrawing from society, loosing your friends, not quite being understood by people and family, not knowing where to turn or what to do, or who to speak to, spending all the hours in a day alone. Loosing everything you ever worked for. These are the signs of suicide. As for Robin Williams he just wanted to get back to never never land, and that was the only was he new how, he just was not understood.