The need for more education & understanding.

"...when the church isn’t for the suffering,
then the Church isn’t for Christ."

—Ann VosKamp

I'm really thankful for the quick response of some folks/organizations in regards to Robin Williams' recent death by suicide.  It was quickly apparent to me that news like this is received quite differently by those of us living intimately with the reality of suicide's effects and most everyone else.  It might seem unnecessary that the impact of his illnesses/struggles/haunting demons be so personal to us, most of whom never knew or even met Williams.  But we are united in the darkness, and when one of us disappears into the night, the loss is tremendous- whether they were family or stranger.

I'm going to keep my own thoughts to a minimum, at least for this post, because I just want you to read the really good stuff others have been writing this week.  Please, for our sakes and for your own, PLEASE educate yourself more about the reality of mental illness and addiction.  And please, PLEASE be conscientious and and intentional in the way that you engage in any conversation or sharing of information surrounding this tragedy.  Seriously, please read the links below, not just the little bits I quoted.  This stuff is massively important.


What the Church & Christians Need to Know About Suicide & Mental Health (by Ann Voskamp, on A Holy Experience blog)

Don’t only turn up the praise songs but turn to Lamentations and Job and be a place of lament and tenderly unveil the God who does just that — who wears the scars of the singe. A God who bares His scars and reaches through the fire to grab us, “Come — Escape into Me.” 

Nobody had told me that –

that one of the ways to get strong again is to set the words free. 

You know — The Word that bends close and breathes warming love into the universe…. and the words mangled around swollen secrets and strangling dark — just let the Word, the words, all free in you.

There Is Still Some Time (by Jamie Tworkowski, on TWLOHA blog)

It's okay - whatever you need and however long it takes - it's okay.  

It's okay.  

If you feel too much, there's still a place for you here.  

If you feel too much, don't go.  

There is still some time.

Reflections on the Loss of Robin Williams (by Sophia Bush, on TWLOHA blog)

What I know is that he was human. He was broken. He shared those struggles, honestly, with people. And, in that arena, made people feel less alone. What I know is that depression is a foe you cannot turn your back on. What I know is that you are not alone. It's hard to admit that you are falling apart, especially when everyone thinks you "have it all together." But please. Be as courageous about your big, bad fears as you are about your passions in those moments of greatness. Tell someone you are breaking. You'll discover that they are broken too, so they can probably help you pick up some of your pieces and lighten your load. Please. Think about how wounded even strangers feel at the loss of this man's light. SOMEONE out there feels that way about YOU. I promise. It's okay to be broken. To be scared. To need help. It's okay. It's profoundly human. It happens to the best of us. It's okay. You matter to people you aren't even aware of. It's okay.

What We Can Do (Ken Duckworth, on NAMI blog)
AFSP has 2 articles regarding the way we talk about this: Unsafe Reporting on Suicide Can Cost Lives and Suicide Contagion and Social Media
SAVE recommended this article: Robin Williams' Death Reveals How Hard It Can Be To Climb Out Of Depression

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-TALK (8255) - 24 hours a day / 7 days a week