Mental illness has claimed yet another tragic victim. Anthony Bourdain was found dead this morning in his hotel room from an apparent suicide. At 61 years old, Bourdain's career has spanned decades. He pioneered his genre, inspiring and taking his audience on adventures all over the world, everything seen through the lens of his passion: the love of food.
This makes the second high profile suicide this week. Fashion designer Kate Spade was found dead from an apparent suicide on Tuesday.
The attention should already be there, but maybe now people will start giving suicide and mental illness the attention it so desperately deserves. The CDC released a report on Thursday showing that suicide rates increased in every state but one from 1999 to 2016. We lost nearly forty-five thousand people to suicide in 2016 alone. Over the last eighteen years, suicide rates went up more than 30 percent in at least half of the states in the union. 30 percent!
National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
The study also showed, and this might be even more worrying, that more than half of those who died by suicide didn't have a known mental health problem. Could that be because no one talks to one another anymore? We communicate via email, text and instant messenger. How many times have you actually sat down at a dinner table with a co-worker, friend or even a family member?
Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade prove that no matter how rich and famous you are, no matter how successful you've become, everyone is dealing with something. We all need someone to talk to, and issues to work out. Drop what you're doing and give someone a call. Seek out the quiet person in the office and invite them to lunch. Smile to someone that looks like they've had a bad day. Reach out to one another!
Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade prove that no matter how rich and famous you are, no matter how successful you've become, everyone is dealing with something.
This is a clear and present danger for all humans. This is our collective fight. It's time humanity teamed up and declared
enough is enough.
UPDATE: Here's how the conversation went on radio. Watch the video below.
Why do we hurt ourselves and others?
Mental illness has claimed yet another tragic victim, Anthony Bourdain. If you are struggling with this, please talk to someone.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)