In the wake of the recent and tragic news stories of celebrity suicides, people are seeking ways to prevent this sort of thing from happening to them or to those they care about. One way is by sending each other suicide alerts, which are known as ‘suicide notes.’ These notes can be either anonymous or personal, and let the recipient know that they are not going to be alone in their struggle. Here, we’re going to take a look at one celebrity and his amazing, albeit heartbreaking journey to the alter, as well as how he changed the game of suicide prevention forever.
The Late Actor Robert Pattinson
If you’re unfamiliar, the late actor was most recently seen on the big screen in Dark Knights: Metal gear Solid V, where he played a minor role. He’s probably most well-known for his role as Harry Potter in the Fantastic Beasts series. Although he did not appear in the first film, the trailer for the fifth (and final) installment of the Harry Potter series, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald has footage of Robert Pattinson in which he discusses Harry Potter with Credé Collins, who plays Madame Maxime in the films. He also portrayed the titular character in the Twilight saga. He’s had a pretty busy year, what with all the movies and appearances, but the most recent news is that he’s still struggling with depression.
How He Got Here
The 43-year-old actor was born in London to actress Kate Bosworth and director and producer, Michael Pattinson. He first revealed that he was feeling down during the making of Twilight, during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2013. The following year, he attended a clinic in Paris for a week to speak with therapists about his mental health. He told Entertainment Tonight that his depression stemmed from his fame. In 2015, he was hospitalized for a few days after he tried to take his life.
Depression Is Treatable
The news that Robert Pattinson was still feeling the effects of depression following all these years of success was truly shocking. One of the ways that he sought to overcome his illness was by seeking treatment. In order to better understand his condition, he sought help from specialists at the Beck Institute in California. He told Entertainment Tonight during an appearance at the premiere of The Batman in 2021 that his time at the Beck Institute was valuable because it gave him a clearer understanding of his depression. He also revealed that he had been taking medication for the condition, which aided him in getting back on his feet.
Inspiring The Community
While he was in treatment, Robert Pattinson started an initiative called ‘Turning Point,’ which encourages people to speak out about their feelings. The actor’s mother established a similar initiative, called ‘Free To Be…’ in the wake of her son’s suicide attempt, which encouraged people to be more open about their mental health. She appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in the wake of her son’s death, and spoke about how important it was for their family to be able to share their story. Now, both of their initiatives aim to inspire change within the community and to promote acceptance and awareness around mental health issues. Since he started these clubs, Robert Pattinson has been busy traveling to different cities around the world to speak at various events, including the upcoming London Film and Comic Con.
The Future Of Suicide Prevention
While we wait for Hollywood’s brightest to emerge from their self-inflicted slumber and seek help, it’s time to take stock of what we’ve learned and continue the fight against depression and suicide. One of the things that we’ve learned is that it’s not easy to find a way out of depression. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), even if you do find the strength to seek help, your chances of overcoming your mental illness are still bleak. They estimate that there are only five chances out of 100 that you’ll be free of your mental illness by the time you’re 45 years old. For comparison, cancer has a one in four chance of being fatal and heart disease a one in three chance. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, please reach out to someone you trust who can help. You might also want to look into talking therapies or finding a support group. Just remember, you’re not alone; you’re fighting the good fight. Sending each other notes of hope is a way to remind one another that we’re out here and we’re fighting the good fight.