Murphy Statement on the Life of Robin Williams

Statement

On Tuesday, Dr. Tim Murphy (PA-18) made the following statement on Robin Williams:

"Today as a nation we are in shock at the passing of celebrated actor Robin Williams. Over the past decades, we've marveled at his immeasurable wit and talent. Today we mourn his death; speechless over the report of suicide.

There are nearly 40,000 suicides each year. Over the last decade the annual suicide rate among Mr. Williams' age group has increased nearly 30 percent. In what other discipline of medicine would we ignore such staggering statistics? This is a national crisis that demands our response. Suicide is a symptom of depression. Depression is a brain illness that blocks our ability to understand there is hope. It blocks our ability to understand we can get help. Not only can those with mental illness get help, they can and do get well.

Out of this tragedy can, and will, come triumph. In this very moment I believe we will find the courage to take suicide, severe depression and serious mental illness out of the shadows and into the spotlight. And we will act in the face of this growing crisis by approaching serious mental illness as a medical emergency best described as "crisis psychiatry.'

Perhaps Robin Williams' greatest gift to us, if we choose to accept it, is a focused determination to help those with brain illness and finally take real action to stop the loss of one more precious life."

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