Unless you were born today (Tuesday) or under a rock, you have heard the sad news about Robin Williams. He was a comedic genius and while I didn’t always appreciate the direction/language of his humor, he had “the touch.” He won an Academy Award for “Good Will Hunting.” I loved him in “Dead Poet’s Society.” I watched Aladdin with my girls and sat in awe at his ability to do so many voices.
The world lost a talented entertainer.
But Robin Williams is not alone. It is no secret that suicide is reaching epic proportions among teens and young adults. But suicide is far more than someone just giving up on life. They report Robin suffered from depression and had even entered rehab for a relapse of his addiction. The “secular” world is not alone though. There has been a recent rash of suicides among pastors as well. Rick Warren lost his son over a year ago. Ergun Caner’s 15 year old son committed suicide within the past couple weeks. Read this article for more information.
Depression is a large cause for this rise in suicides. Just over a month ago, Kari Scare wrote five posts for me specifically dealing with depression. Here is her first and you can follow them from there. I recently had someone in my office feeling lost and “out of sorts spiritually” because they were depressed and didn’t think they should be. You know…”If my faith was real…”
What does the church do? What should the church do? I can tell you it has to offer more than just platitudes. You know…those old “pie in the sky” pithy sayings we are so wont to give. We have got to stop the Scarlet letter “D” to be written across the foreheads of hurting people. I have been blessed so far in my 61 years to have never suffered any type of depression. But I know those who have and have been made to feel worthless, less of a Christian, even lost because they battle depression.
Shame on us!
One of the essential elements of the church is community. It is time we start acting like it. It is time we stop judging and start reaching out. It is time we stop downplaying this “sickness/disease” and start doing something to help people heal.
Any thoughts?
Meanwhile, how about praying for Robin’s family?
Depression is so much more than just being in a sour mood or feeling bad. It erodes every anchor that you once had thought was immovable. The medications that doctors often prescribe can also do much to continue to push one away from stability. Then there is the helpful preacher who pounds out his fiery message on how anxiety and worry are sins. It is such a crippling and hope destroying condition.
I don’t think many understand the depth of feelings that goes along with depression Daniel. Many others have no clue what to say/not to say. Your use of crippling and hope destroying are on the money. Thanks.
Daniel’s description is definitely right on. Some days, I think I have it licked. Other days, such as when someone like Robin Williams ends his life, I’m not so certain I do. The feelings come back all too easily, and I understand why he did what he did. That’s scary.
Thanks for agreeing with this Kari. Gives credence to Daniel’s words.
Ann Voskamp wrote this today: http://www.aholyexperience.com/2014/08/what-the-church-christians-need-to-know-about-suicide-mental-health
Took the time to read that. It was powerful.
Very wise words. My hope is that as well as discovering better ways to deal with and treat depression, we will all grow in our understanding of just what it is and how it touches so many people.
Can’t add much to that Rodney. We NEED to know more.
Yes, we do. We need to find ways to get at the root causes instead of treating the symptoms.
Yes!!!! Pray for his family.
Thank you.
I think about depression just as I think about cancer, it’s eats away healthy tissue (thoughts) till one cannot think straight. There is not a week that goes by that some woman tells me about dealing with depression and her fear of talking about it. In some Christian circles you are less of a Christian if you suffer from depression, not Godly. I tell them, you are a wise courageous woman to seek help.
Kari did an excellent job of explaining depression, in fact I plan to use her notes to give to a few women I know.
I just got off of chat with a dear friend who brother committed suicide, shot himself. She understands depression. All the news of Robin Willians has brought all the guilt up again of how could she not know he was so depressed? What more could she had done echo’s in her ears? Like any senseless death it leaves behind garbage that others will be picking up for the rest of their life.
Daniel said it well, depression erodes every anchor that you once had thought was immovable. I think of the scripture in Hebrews, take heed my brother if you think you won’t fall… and I take that to also mean fall into depression. One does not wake up one day and decide to be depressed, sometimes it resides in the fallen DNA’s handed down from fallen Adam and Eve to us. I am sure they felt depression after being banished from the garden of Eden. Just as our body is dying from the day we are born our minds, our natural minds are decaying also. Just ask an older person how their memory is…they will tell you it’s gone…why…the aging process…dying cells. WE just seem to accept it when it comes to the physical but not the mental or emotional.
Yes I will pray for Robin family just as I do for all those I know who have lost someone to depression leading to suicide.
There are so many variations to hopelessness and depression. I totally agree with Daniel as well Betty. I’m glad to hear Kari’s series is still being helpful. Thanks for your prayers.
I’m humbled to know the series is helping others. Prayer heals. It also gives us the path for true victory over depression. God’s Word holds the answers, of that I have no doubt. Focusing on Jesus is the only lasting “cure” I’ve found in my 30 years battling depression… and I’ve tried a lot.
Keep sharing Jesus as the hope to deal with depression.
Depression is very real and those of us who have never experienced it cannot even imagine how those who suffer with it feel. To me, we have swept illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia under the rugs of fear and ignorance for far too long.
I wish I could disagree with you Pam but I can’t…on both counts.
I honestly don’t have a clue how people that have depression make it without God. One look through the Psalms and it becomes evident that David lived a life of highs and lows that marks depression. It’s part of life, but God is the answer. I’m praying.
I agree Floyd. Also know about David’s struggle. He knew he needed God’s cover. Thanks for praying.
It is a sad testament that the church so often hurts and ostracizes those it is called to help. Be it depression or addiction or any multitude of other issues that us fallen creatures drag with us when we walk through those doors. I say “church” but it really is individuals within the collective that do so much harm. What is more unfortunate still, is the church is then judged by those outside as a whole because of the actions of a few.
Regarding Robin Williams and many others in the entertainment industry: So often their “gifting” on the stage or screen in birthed from and “nourished” by the pain they suffer through behind the scenes. And sadly, in the end, sometimes the pain is just too much …
The world did indeed loose a unique talent to the same pain that in some ways made him great.
I’ll be praying for his family as well.
As I read your comment David, the statement which came to mind was “the church is the only army that shoots its own wounded.” But it isn’t just those within “the borders” who get ostracized. And you are right. Many entertainers cover up their own flaws by making us laugh or by superb acting. Great comment David. Thanks.
For me, the church simply pretended the issue didn’t exist, at least for the most part. There were a few who went out of their way to help pull me out of the depths, and it is those individuals who truly were the church for me. Outside of the church body, I find that depression may be more accepted, but it’s really too accepted. What I mean by that is it’s okay to have like a food allergy or something. It’s often a crutch. We need to see it as something Jesus defeated, as a lie of Satan that holds no power over us any longer. I need to remind myself of that often when the feelings start itching my awareness once again.
That is also a bad reaction Kari. Bury the head in the sand approach. The trouble doesn’t go away. It stays. I also see what you mean by “crutch.”
Thanks for starting this discuss again Bill. Climbing out of the pit of depression is a long battle, and it takes a lot of small steps that add together over time to make a big difference. We have to be willing to do the work, to get to the root causes and to declare the only solution that has ever truly brought victory…. the same solution that defeated death. So many times I’ve told myself that if Christ defeated death, He can defeat depression too!
i would say my pleasure Kari but that sounds like I am trying to make light of what happened. I’m glad people are beginning to talk about it. Not just talk…work on it. Glad I can be of some help. You need to get that book written. 🙂
I emailed you more about the book. Interesting to have to fight through feelings of depression in order to write about depression, which I believe is defeated in my life.
I never got the email Kari.
You are not making light of it my brother, you are allowing insight to flow out through the comments…
Thanks Betty. I reckon I don’t want anyone thinking I was using Robin’s suicide to draw people here or to start the discussion again. I do appreciate your encouragement.
Oh Bill, this is just beautiful. How blessed your church is to have you as their leader.
I think I grew up with the idea that depression was for the weak. But wouldn’t you know, my family has it’s victims to sadness…nothing like personal experience to turn your thoughts around. Depression and anxiety are biological problems and they CAN be addressed. I think of your friend who guest blogged for you so brilliantly on the subject.
Let’s encourage our friends and family to see a doctor. There is help!
Ceil
That first line means the world to me Ceil. Thanks so much. On your comment: going through something sure changes our perspective doesn’t it? I agree about the doctors and getting help. No stigma.
This is a great posting Bill. Since hearing this very sad news, I have been praying for the Williams family and it has reminded me of how grateful I am that God brings me out of that ugly depression, even when satan is feverishly trying to take me back down there. I do not know how people get through depression without God; without Him, a good therapist and medication, I shudder to think of where I might be today. I truly understand how people can be taken under by depression and take their own life. It is a disease and it is not just feeling blue or having a sad day. It can swallow a person up. I honestly don’t know a magic answer of how the church or anyone can help a person through depression. Often, we who are in our depressive states don’t want to hear from anyone, will avoid seeing people, taking phone calls or going out. I am very blessed to have a husband who recognized that I was going under quickly and got me to a hospital, but some people have no-one. How do we help them?? I agree that it’s good to bring depression awareness to the forefront, but really, when a person is suffering from this disease, there is not much (at least that I can think of) that someone can do to stop them from taking their life. It’s very very sad. After watching about an hour of the news stories on Robin Williams death, I had to turn off the tv, it brought back many unpleasant memories of a time when I felt there was no other way out than death, it also made me incredibly sad to think about his being in such a state that he did what he did. I did attend a study once where a woman stated that people who are depressed just need to lean on God more, and they don’t need medicine, she continued to say the fact that they aren’t getting better means they don’t have enough faith. She made that statement after I had just poured my heart out about having depression. 🙁 Thanks for posting about this Bill and sorry I rambled on for so long.
I should add that the remark with the woman was about 3 years ago, I had been very ill with depression and was just on the way of seeing some light, that comment made me doubt if I was a good christian, so I guess I would say that people should not make such comments to a person suffering through depression.
First, that woman needs to step down from teaching. She does not know what she is talking about. IMHO. It isn’t as easy as that or as 1-2-3. Second, I’m glad you have a husband who deeply cares and knows you and loves you. I’m glad you are fighting this Jan. Don’t give up.
I am so sad about Robin Williams’ passing away and especially for the family he left behind. He’s dead, but it’s them who have to handle all the media storm right now, connected with his death.
Depression is a tricky beast and many don’t even realize what it is. I was thinking the other day that when you’ve got a toothache, it’s hard to remember what it’s like to be painfree. However, when the medicine finally works and you get better – it’s hard to remember what it was like to have that toothache (even though it was YOU who had it, not even someone else).
It is sad Zee. Now they are saying he has early stages of Parkinsons as well. Double whammy. It is a tricky beast and you give a good picture of its nature.