When I first learned about Robbin Williams' death, my first thought was "What was he thinking?" I know his situation probably had nothing to do with "the one that got away", but I had to remind myself of something.
Before I go into that, I will mention that many well meaning people will tell a depressed person to seek help. That's good advice, and there are professionals who can offer support. If you ever feel suicidal, I urge you do the same. One more attempt to survive can make all the difference.
With that said, I offer a couple personal stories.
Several years ago, I overheard a group of people (mostly middle age or senior citizens) offer their feedback after a young man had committed suicide. When it was implied it was "over a girl", an unmistakable laughter was heard. I didn't know the victim, so this is not a bias on my part. I wanted to shout at them in fury. IT'S NOT FUNNY. This is the same group of people who found the suicide of someone else (didn't know him either) after losing his job a tragedy. It sickened me.
Here is my personal experience. I have felt suicidal. I have been to the ER several times. I have been in the back of ambulances. I have been hospitalized twice. It affected my jobs, my family, and my relationships. Had I been red pilled sooner, I don't know if I would put myself through a lot of stress that at the time somehow seemed inevitable. Whether that's my upbringing, genetics, being bullied, or whatever else that made me think that way, I couldn't tell you.
Why do I bring this up?
I've often heard repeated, "Why didn't they seek help?"
Well, there is a chance they did seek "help". In one of my episodes, an ambulance driver was unprofessional and hostile. If that sort of attitude motivates anyone who was in my position, I'd be surprised. The policeman was much kinder to me. I was unarmed, calm, and honest with them about seeking help. They put me in a room that looked more like a prison cell. I have no criminal record. I am not a violent person.
When I tried getting some kind of explanation, the only answer I got was that the police and emergency personnel are not "properly trained" for dealing with a suicidal person. I would imagine most people are not prepared for dealing with this. We all need to do our part in learning more about how it really feels to be in that much anguish and how we can truly support family and friends.
In those dark moments, you don't think straight. You cannot reason. The world is against you. If you learn to recognize when this happening, you can know to call the hotline, go to the ER, call a trusted friend or family member, etc. Whatever you do, get yourself out of the negative pattern.
"Why didn't they seek help?"
If they did (or even if they did not), they might have been treated very poorly. Viewed as a criminal. Like something is wrong with you. You're abnormal. No one wants to listen. You're a freak. Insert your own insensitive/ignorant bullying cliche here. That makes them feel like there really is no hope. I don't have to tell you who the truly sick person is.