Robin Williams was a comedic genius. His death has left many reeling and mourning. There is something terrible and sad about suicide always, but particularly when a life was dedicated to making others laugh.
His suicide is a springboard to a broader point about combating suicide. For if current “death with dignity” folks have their way, we’ll soon have no logical reason to decry suicide at all.
How do we help people in a severe depression see through to a brighter time?
Certainly not by selling exit bags on the Internet. Pardon the extremely macabre nature of this, but exit bags are placed over one’s head, tied at the neck and used with a sedative-type drug so that our natural instincts for survival don’t take over when the carbon monoxide levels rise in the bag.
(Some help combat suicidal tendencies. Others provide the tools. It’s truly almost hard to believe.)
There has been no approval of suicide after his death, only shock and mourning. Suicide is always tragic, let it not be considered a viable option in any circumstance. Death with dignity does not mean providing an exit bag, it means providing hope. If Robin Williams had thought his death through more completely, and requested it, under current euthanasia legislation presented in Quebec right now, he would be granted it.
Things to ponder as we try to create a brighter world for people suffering in the dark realm of depression.
Robin Williams, Rest In Peace.
by 
You’ve made a point that has been noodling around in my mind for a time. If assisted suicide becomes accepted, then what is going to happen to suicide prevention?
I’ve also wondered this. It’s scary, what happens if I have children and one of them has suicidal tendencies? How will I help them if our laws claim that they have, not only a right to death, but also a right to be helped in the facilitation of their death? How could I protect someone from those who would encourage them in their quest to die?
I also think there is a BIG difference between someone killing themselves (a decision that they made on their own) vs. someone being helped to kill themselves (a decision that may or may not have been influenced or coerced). Right-to-die advocates make a big stink about people having a right to make their own decisions. Sure, I’ll grant them that. But in something as permanent as death, I would think we’d want to be damn sure that someone truly wanted to die, and the only way we could know that is if they took the initiative themselves, even with access to suicide prevention counseling, medication, etc. For something like suicide, as soon as you introduce an outside influence, it is no longer a truly personal decision. Advocates fail to realize that everyone can kill themselves whenever they want – there really is nothing stopping you, or me, from ending our own lives. Sure, someone might interfere for a bit and try to stop me, keep me in a padded room, etc … but if I was really determined, I would succeed in MY decision, and if everything was done to try to stop me, then we would know that I truly wanted to die, and wasn’t simply going through a rough bout of depression, etc.
And when it comes to life or death, it HAS to be completely personal, difficult decision. It’s the same reason I am against the death penalty – if there’s a chance that we could execute even ONE person who is innocent, the cost of legalization of the death penalty is too great. Likewise, if even one person dies that otherwise have recovered from suicidal tendencies with help and treatment, then their death is too great a cost for legalization of assisted suicide.
I experienced this personally a few years ago. My grandfather’s health was deteriorating, and he wanted to die. If doctors had been permitted to grant his request, he would not be here today. Instead, he made it through a long, difficult recovery with a lot of help, support, and counseling, and today he is happily spending his time surrounded by his family, particularly his new great grandchild. These beautiful moments (his recovery, his happiness with his family, the opportunity to meet a great grandchild, etc) would never have happened if assisted suicide were legal.