by Neena Strichart-
In the last few days it seems one cannot escape the ongoing news of the death of the beloved actor/comedian Robin Williams. Whether you turn on the television, listen to the radio, read a newspaper or participate on Facebook, there has been a constant stream of details and comments surrounding the tragic circumstances regarding Robin’s apparent decision earlier this week to take his own life.
I am especially sensitive to the subject of suicide, having a father, brother and nephew who all perished in the same manner. I have so many thoughts and opinions on the subject, yet I hesitate to share any of them with you, our gentle readers, at this time. With such constant news about Robin Williams reaching me from every angle, sadness, grief and confusion have come flowing back to my being as if my personal experiences happened just yesterday— when in reality, my family members made their decisions to leave this earth decades ago.
Instead of trying to write a cohesive and meaningful column on the topic, I have instead turned to my friend Karyn Mancini, a mental healthcare professional, to use her words to comfort and inform our readers on the subject of suicide. Below are her remarks: