Robin Williams’ Son Opens Up About The Actor’s Suicide

Robin Williams, who rose to fame due to his position because the alien Mork within the TV present “Mork & Mindy” (1978–1982) and his stand-up comedy, tragically handed away on August 11, 2014, from suicide.

Regardless of his skilled success, Robin struggled with private challenges, together with dependancy and psychological well being points, in addition to problems from Lewy physique dementia, a progressive neurological illness.

On what would have been Robin Williams’ 73rd birthday, his son Zak Williams is honoring his late father and highlighting the significance of psychological well being consciousness inside the leisure trade.

In a brand new interview with Brandon Saho, Robin Williams’ son, Zak Williams, 41, opened up about his father’s loss of life, psychological well being struggles, and the leisure trade. “Effectively, I feel, relative to his wrestle, it was very a lot the wrestle of a whole lot of comics and entertainers,” he stated. “That is what many, many people within the leisure trade cope with and may’t speak about.”

“So, sure, he skilled melancholy [and] anxiousness over the course of his life, trauma, and issues like that,” he added. “However you realize, he had efficient methods to handle it, and he received a whole lot of pleasure and therapeutic from going out, entertaining audiences, being immersed in environments the place there’s a lot of people who wish to interact with what he has to say.”

“In terms of his mental health, once more, you realize, he had efficient methods of managing it, and after I realized increasingly more concerning the challenges that entertainers cope with, they should put a smile on,” Zak revealed.

Zak additionally posted a black-and-white throwback picture of his father on X, the social media platform previously referred to as Twitter.

“Dad, on what can be your 73rd birthday,” he wrote within the submit. “I keep in mind you for all of the hope and pleasure you dropped at the world.”

He continued, “There’s not per week that goes by with out somebody sharing with me the way you helped them by a darkish time or a tough patch. I am so grateful to be your son. Love you ceaselessly.”

Ever since his father passed away, the now 41-year-old has been energetic in psychological well being advocacy and has co-founded the psychological well being group “Inseparable.”

“Inseparable” goals to cut back stigma, enhance entry to psychological well being sources, and advocate for coverage modifications. The group focuses on supporting people and households affected by psychological well being challenges, and it gives sources and neighborhood assist to assist enhance psychological well-being.

“The coronavirus pandemic has introduced mild to a parallel pandemic that is occurring,” Zak informed People Magazine in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. “We’re experiencing from it as a direct results of the pandemic… a shared trauma that is changing into fairly acute on account of every part that individuals have been by each by way of the devastating financial results, the isolation and a whole lot of circumstances from communities.”

“As an alternative of changing into extra remoted, discovering resentment, getting indignant about it, we have to really discover options and alternatives to band collectively to search out the sources and apply them to precise significant change on a system’s stage,” he added. “That is what I feel is so necessary presently.”

Zak has discovered his personal path to psychological wellness by “prioritizing self-care earlier than being there for others.”

“I keep away from medicine and alcohol, I decide to assist teams,” he informed Individuals Journal. “One factor I discovered very therapeutic for me by my expertise has been service and dedication to service work particularly round psychological well being and psychological well being assist organizations. Consuming nicely, committing to a wholesome way of life. Issues that I would like in my weekly and every day routine to higher assist my wellbeing.”

If you happen to or somebody you realize wants psychological well being assist, textual content “STRENGTH” to the Disaster Textual content Line at 741-741.