The shocking news of popular chef / personality / world traveler Anthony Bourdain's suicide earlier today in France, following the suicide of designer icon Kate Spade on Tuesday, is a reminder that depression and demons are, in varying degrees, present in every life no matter how outwardly successful the person. Too often, these demons are well hidden from friends and family, and cause shock when they drive a person to take their own life. Both Bourdain and Spade left a young daughter to cope with the loss.
The worrisome fact is that suicide rates in the U.S. have increased dramatically in the past 20 years according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to behavioral scientist Deborah Stone who co-authored the CDCP study,
"Suicide in this country really is a problem that is impacted by so many factors. It's not just a mental health concern...these folks were suffering from other issues, such as relationship problems, substance misuse, physical health problems, job or financial problems, and recent crises or things that were coming up in their lives that they were anticipating."If you or someone you know is struggling, know that your death will affect the people in your life profoundly whether you realize it or not. Let them help you, or call the suicide prevention lifeline and talk to someone, talk to anyone. Don't let it kill you.
