By Debra L. Wentz
The work week started and ended with suicides of two well-known figures, fashion designer Kate Spade and food critic/travel writer Anthony Bourdain. These tragedies occurred soon after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that suicide rates have increased steadily in nearly every state and in most age and ethnic groups from 1999 to 2016, resulting in an overall national increase of 25 percent.
People who are not familiar with depression would readily say, "I don't understand. These people had fame, fortune and good looks and they traveled widely. Why were they unhappy?" This speaks to the misunderstanding of mental illnesses. Quite often, suicide is linked to depression -- not uniquely, but in most cases. Suicide is also prevalent among individuals with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or addiction to alcohol, other drugs or gambling.
This is not the first time a well-known figure died by suicide. Actor Robin Williams died in 2014, and singers/musicians Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell took their lives last year. The deaths that occurred this week are not copycat incidents and they were not done to have a dramatic impact. They are related to mental illnesses, which are real illnesses.
Suicide tends to attract people's attention when it happens to someone who is famous and visible in the media. The reality is that suicide risk is present in all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic and other groups. No one is immune.
The increasing suicide rates occurred as rates of diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses have also grown over the past 10 years, demonstrating that there is no foolproof plan. This is also true of physical illnesses. For example, an individual with heart disease who is compliant with treatment and recommended dietary changes can still experience a fatal heart-related incident. However, treatment greatly increases the chances of recovery -- whether the illness is heart disease, another chronic physical health condition or a mental illness.
Spade was in treatment and struggled with depression for a long time before her tragic death. However, 60 percent of individuals with mental illnesses do not receive treatment, due to stigma, lack of health insurance, lack of qualified providers and other factors.
Mental illnesses are chronic, and early diagnosis and intervention are highly effective. More education is needed to build an understanding of mental illnesses and the willingness to seek treatment when needed.
Mental illnesses are disorders that affect individuals' mood, thinking and behavior. Types of mental illness include depression, post-traumatic stress and other anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors. Factors involved with mental illnesses that can increase risk of suicide, especially when these illnesses are not treated, are social isolation, drug and alcohol abuse, and other risky behaviors. Treatment and development of coping skills are essential.
The body of fashion designer Kate Spade is removed by New York City Coroner's Office personnel after she was found dead at age 55 at her Park Avenue apartment on June 5, 2018 in New York. Spade, one of the biggest names in American fashion, was found dead Tuesday in New York after committing suicide, police said. (Bryan R. Smith| AFP/Getty Images)
Open discussion about mental illnesses and suicide must continue, and not take place only when the suicide death of a celebrity occurs. However, celebrities who are coping with mental illnesses are contributing greatly to these needed conversations. Singers Lady Gaga and Demi Lovato; actors Jared Padalecki, Ryan Reynolds, Dwayne Johnson and Selena Gomez; and Princes William and Harry are recent examples.
Education needs to be ongoing and access to mental health and substance use services needs to be expanded.
Debra L. Wentz is president and CEO of New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies Inc., a statewide trade association representing nearly 160 organizations that serve New Jersey residents with mental illness and/or substance use disorders, and their families.
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