Robin Williams suicide

[Anonymous]

His meds might have contributed to it. That's the point I'm trying to make. He wasn't diagnosed as bipolar...google it. That's shocking given that the world assumed he was. Maybe his primary doctor never saw him perform? Google the article the other day saying how Parkinson's meds likely exacerbated his depression. He was likely taking multiple meds for anxiety, depression and Parkinson's and they likely caused his terrible state of hopelessness. This happens. And I hope his wife and kids shed a light on it. This is what's happening to veterans who are killing themselves every 13 minutes. Too many meds, no real therapy, no real oversight of the impact of the cocktail of meds. And patients should be warned that some meds actually exacerbate depression so patients and loved ones can monitor the situation closely. This didn't have to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:His meds might have contributed to it. That's the point I'm trying to make. He wasn't diagnosed as bipolar...google it. That's shocking given that the world assumed he was. Maybe his primary doctor never saw him perform? Google the article the other day saying how Parkinson's meds likely exacerbated his depression. He was likely taking multiple meds for anxiety, depression and Parkinson's and they likely caused his terrible state of hopelessness. This happens. And I hope his wife and kids shed a light on it. This is what's happening to veterans who are killing themselves every 13 minutes. Too many meds, no real therapy, no real oversight of the impact of the cocktail of meds. And patients should be warned that some meds actually exacerbate depression so patients and loved ones can monitor the situation closely. This didn't have to happen.

I agree completely. But I do not think "fear of the wrong meds" should deter most of the people in this area getting the professional help they so desperately need.

[Anonymous]

I'm not saying that at all. Rather, I would be skeptical of a doctor who throws meds at you without spending time to speak with you and refer you to a psychiatrist (although psychologists tend to spend more time with you and do a better job of helping people with depression). And I would watch a loved one like a hawk if docs prescribed multiple meds with warnings about exacerbating depression or risk of suicide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not saying that at all. Rather, I would be skeptical of a doctor who throws meds at you without spending time to speak with you and refer you to a psychiatrist (although psychologists tend to spend more time with you and do a better job of helping people with depression). And I would watch a loved one like a hawk if docs prescribed multiple meds with warnings about exacerbating depression or risk of suicide.

His doctor could have been very thorough in counseling about possible side effects. It's hard to know. Also in terms of people watching out for their loved ones it's not possible to control for all variables and supervise an adult 100% of the time. I sure his family feels a horrible amount of guilt even though it's not their fault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not saying that at all. Rather, I would be skeptical of a doctor who throws meds at you without spending time to speak with you and refer you to a psychiatrist (although psychologists tend to spend more time with you and do a better job of helping people with depression). And I would watch a loved one like a hawk if docs prescribed multiple meds with warnings about exacerbating depression or risk of suicide.

His doctor could have been very thorough in counseling about possible side effects. It's hard to know. Also in terms of people watching out for their loved ones it's not possible to control for all variables and supervise an adult 100% of the time. I sure his family feels a horrible amount of guilt even though it's not their fault.

I would bet. In a suicide, I tend to think that the spouse may have been vacant, absent or somehow remiss. I guess I am looking for a reason here, since he was so talented and contributed so much not only to popular society, but different causes. It would be more understandable, somehow, if he just felt he was taking up space. It's been a few days and I still am somewhat shocked. I wasn't a huge fan, but I liked most of his movies (not Mork), and appreciated that he was quite good at what he did. Not the norm.

[Anonymous]

David Letterman has had the best tribute to RW so far.