There's nothing to say about Robin Williams that hasn't already been said by other people. The man gave us a long career in comedy. He even served our favorite hobby, loving video games so much he named his daughter Zelda.
We know Williams was depressed, and he likely committed suicide. The idea that such a joyful comedian couldn't find enough joy to keep living is awful. It depresses me.
I can't offer any great insight into this man, suicide, or the nature of life. I'll just offer my story. Not trying to make this all about me, but I'll share in the hopes that this could help someone else experiencing the same thing.
High school did not go well for me. I was (am) a weird kid who had (has) trouble making friends. Books, movies and video games were my closest companions. That's probably true of a few of you as well. You know what it's like.
That life gets depressing at times. I remember staying home on the night of senior prom, playing video games in my room. I told myself it was because I didn't need to go. That prom was pointless (it was). But the truth was I didn't know many people. Barely knew any girls, let alone any I could ask out.
Thinking about this weighs you down. Makes you sad. You feel like you don't have any friends because you don't deserve them. Because you're too weird and too sad and too lonely and no one would ever like you. You feel even worse when you think about dating. Best not to remember that you went on one blind date over four years.
I got pretty depressed in high school. Considered suicide more than once. That pocket knife I got from Boy Scouts looked pretty damn appealing after the bad days. Never went through with it, though. Would have been too hard on my parents.
In the end, humor, friends and college saved me. Finding the humor in life helped. Hard to feel sad when you're laughing. Friends helped. I only had a few, but they were amazing companions. I owe them so much. Going to college helped a lot, too. You can make new friends that are just as geeky as you are.
Today I'm in a good place. I've got friends, steady work and a good social life. Even started dating a cute girl I met at Board Game Club (seriously, Board Game Club). Most of all, I feel happy with myself. Hard to hate yourself when your friends keep coming over to play Super Smash Bros. and hang out with you. Not trying to build up my life as great, just to point out that I could have never imagined being here five years ago. High school me would have laughed at the idea of being happy at all.
This is the crux of depression. Depression shortens your vision, makes the immediate into the infinite. You may be only on a short plateau, but that plateau sure feels like a infinite desert. The crappy feelings seem like they'll never end.
Here's the thing: They don't last forever.
If you are depressed, there are ways to fight it. Get professional help. Therapy can be a lifesaver. Talk to a friend. A trusted family member. Tell them how you feel. Depression can be a physical illness. Chemicals in your brain do funny things to your mood. Basically, talk to a doctor or somebody with a degree who knows what they're doing. It's what they're there for.
And more than anything, remember that life can and does get better. It's happened for other people. It happened for me.
Just... hang on.