It is always sad when an era ends. I have tears in my eyes, not so much for the loss of such a great acting talent but more importantly an end to an era of straight-shooting funny men. Guys who did not need gimmicks and slapstick to be funny.

Robin Williams always looked so happy – but the image in the mirror that looked back at him obviously was not that of the happy ‘funny man’ he always portrayed.

So, reading the news this morning was painful. But the most important thing I take home from his death is that no matter how successful you are, you cannot escape your inner demons.

No amount of money or fame can buy inner happiness.

So we owe it to everyone we know – our children, family and friends – to be healthy inside. And if we are not happy inside, we need to seek help. We need to put our pride away. More importantly, we, as a society, have to remove the taboos associated with suicide.
The facts:
According to police, Robin Williams was found unconscious and not breathing on Monday inside his LA home. Following a 911 phone call, he was pronounced dead…
The tragedy:
As we publish our yearly Survival Guide in this week’s Ladysmith Gazette, I am haunted by the three pages dedicated to suicide and how relevant they are, not just in this case but for our town in general.
The facts:
Robin Williams, funny man extraordinaire, committed suicide…
The tragedy:
Sometimes we do not see that those nearest and closest to us are in trouble, so we need to be more aware and understand that some people just cannot cope.
The facts:
His wife, Susan Schneider, said: “This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings. I am utterly heartbroken. On behalf of Robin’s family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief. As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin’s death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions.”

The tragedy:

That his family once again follows the stereotypical response to a suicide: let’s not talk about it, let’s not examine the reasons…

My message to everyone:

Please seek help, talk to someone, do anything to let people know you need help. To the family of someone who commits suicide, I say this: Talk about it and use their death as an example to others. Do not hide it or pretend it did not happen.