The legacy of Robin Williams

Yesterday, the world lost one of its funniest citizens.

Robin Williams apparently hanged himself http://t.co/bmuFE9B6Rc
— Krishna Kumar V. (@krishna_kumar_v) August 13, 2014

Just to remind us that depression can be masked.

Celebrity publicist and mental health advocate @TerrieWilliams on Robin Williams & depression: We all wear a mask http://t.co/WgM0vrgAGy — CNN Opinion (@CNNOpinion) August 12, 2014

A South African cartoonist published this today. Not everyone that looks fine is truly fine. #RobinWilliams pic.twitter.com/lcO1ysptAW — Chandra (@Channy3232) August 13, 2014

Just to remind us how deadly depression can be.

Rest in Peace+Laughter Robin Williams. Perhaps this tragedy will shed light on the seriousness of depression. You made us all so so happy.
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) August 12, 2014

Just to remind us how misunderstood depression is.

We Cannot Begin To Understand The Level Of Robin Williams' Depression If We Do Not Understand Depression In General http://t.co/OUiyP699Dz
— Thought Catalog (@ThoughtCatalog) August 13, 2014

Hopefully, there will be more awareness about it.

Robin Williams: Depression Alone Rarely Causes Suicide http://t.co/M04MMClBaK — Scientific American (@sciam) August 13, 2014

And more conversation/discussion about it.

This country needs to have a stark discussion about depression, and Robin Williams death may help start it. http://t.co/72h1IJit8A
— U.S. News Health (@USNewsHealth) August 13, 2014

Hopefully, people will learn about helping one another.

Until the end, Robin Williams fought depression with work. http://t.co/cv6ULKwvzP — NYT Science (@nytimesscience) August 13, 2014

Hopefully, people will venture into helping one another.

"I Didn't Know Him" - a moving blog post by a fellow comedian http://t.co/yBFnvaKjEL via @HuffPostComedy
— Krishna Kumar V. (@krishna_kumar_v) August 13, 2014

Finally, what I'm doing to help myself and others.

What I'm going through to get better http://t.co/IJyzV4yJ4S
— Kris Bass (@bass_man_1979) August 13, 2014

Are you still on those pills?

I was at the venue of the gig yesterday. The band was having dinner. After I finished mine, I opened my backpack and took out of pills (for depression and chronic urticaria) and laid them on the table so that I can take them.

My good friend and band mate who was watching me do it asks me: “Are you still on those pills? Why are you still depressed?” I tried to tell him the facts – that I’m suffering fro depression and am under therapy for it. He still didn’t get it.

This is the state with most people who don’t understand mental illnesses. They think that such illnesses come and go as and when you want them to, and that when situations change, the illnesses disappear by themselves.

All I want to say is this. Clinical depression doesn’t go away when situation becomes better. It needs continuous therapy from which people benefit. If you were not aware of this, now that you have read this, please don’t ask such questions to your friend/family when they bring such topics up.