The tragic death of a comedian is not a new phenomenon by any means, but the death of renowned US comic and actor Robin Williams took many with that strange intermingling of shock and a sadly sobering sense that his end was not altogether unexpected.
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The Courier will leave tributes to those who knew the actor better, save to recognise the loss many people in Ballarat will feel at the death of a man who brought them a great deal of pleasure.
To laugh with someone is in some ways to share in a common humanity. Williams in his extraordinary range of roles enabled millions to laugh along with him whether in his more manic or acerbic moods.
Many of these roles, particularly in later years, were not untouched by that more sobering realisation that the flip side of laughter is often the encroaching gloom of the human condition.
Later performances hinted at this duality and revealed a quieter Williams; a man who had his demons but remained calm and continued the struggle. Some time ago, Williams joined a long list of notable comics who publicly declared they had suffered from depression or other related mental illnesses.
Woody Allen and Spike Milligan are some incredibly talented individuals whose struggles spring to mind.
Not all such cases end as sadly as Williams or the equally grim end of English comic Tony Hancock.
If there is any consolation in the four decades that have passed since Hancock killed himself in Sydney, talking about mental health issues has become considerably more socially acceptable. Initiatives such as beyondblue have become household words and protocols, including the inclusion of Lifeline contacts and other self-help phone services, have become standard procedure in media reporting.
This has come a long way from the obfuscation, mystery and scandal which surrounded every celebrity suicide.
More importantly, it has incrementally sent a critical message that sufferers are not alone and there are services out there to help them.
If Williams’ death adds a note of poignancy to all the laughter he brought us, it should also serve to continue the conversation about mental health and suicide.
It should even in a small way prompt a greater investigation of cause and prevention in our own community and those less famous but equally troubled.
Anybody affected by depression or other mental health issues should contact Lifeline 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636.
