On Mon, Aug 11, 2014 at 8:37 PM, Trevor Tymchuk <[email protected]> wrote:
> Kevin, it sounds as though, on the one hand, you recognize that mental > illness is an illness, and that it needs more resources to be > effectively treated. On the other hand, you say that Williams gave up > the fight, as though it were somehow something he controlled. Mental > illness is an illness. If someone dies of cancer, I don't blame them > for not fighting it hard enough. Saying that he gave up makes it sound > like his illness was not an illness. You seem to say that mental > illness, in this case, depression (specifically the depression part of > bipolar), is something that should only affect people who have a > reason to be depressed. To be blunt, this shows a complete lack of > understanding of depression. If a person has a reason to feel > depressed, it's not usually due to clinical depression. Clinical > depression can be found in many people who have no reason to be > depressed. That's what makes it clinical depression. Your life can be > great, and you feel like shit. That's the illness. > > Mourn or don't mourn, but don't blame the victim, blame the illness. > > I get what you're saying. And you could very well be right, and I freely admit I don't know (and pray to God I never know firsthand) the sorts of troubles Williams either experienced or perceived that led to this. But let me put it the same way I put it over on the Book of Face, when a criminal commits a violent crime (i.e. murder or rape), that person is clearly not right in the head. The specifics of what isn't right in the head of a criminal could be debated, but no mentally well person commits such crimes... yet we hold those people accountable for their actions. Can't I mourn the loss of his talent and potential while still being angry at the hurt Williams has inflicted on those who care for him? I believe I can. Yes, he is a victim, but his actions created additional victims. And this is why I say a discussion on mental health is needed. I know for an absolute fact that I could benefit from proper therapy (and, some could argue, medication), but I can't afford such luxuries. Robin Williams could afford it, but clearly it wasn't enough, so how much more do we have to learn to combat mental health issues the way we combat physical illness? And with so many documented cases of depression, bi-polar, mania, etc, why isn't this THE issue being debated in DC? -- Kevin M. (RPCV) -- -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TVorNotTV" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
