“You are in complete control of your own happiness.”

I am a huge fan of inspirational quotes, but I have a bone to pick with this one.

If I am in complete control of my own happiness, does that mean I am in complete control of my own sadness? My depression? My anxiety? Because, at least for me, it feels like those things are what’re in control.

This past summer Hollywood lost a man of great influence, talent and charisma. Robin Williams’ suicide came as a shock to the world.

Many grieving fans asked themselves how a man who gave his audiences so much happiness, joy and laughter could have possibly reached the point of taking his own life.

The harsh reality of suicide is that no one can possibly know the exact underlying reasons for that person’s decision to take their own life, regardless of how well you feel you knew them, or how in “control of their happiness” they appeared to be.

The truth is that until you yourself have been down the dark alleyway that is depression, addiction, anxiety, and mental illness and experienced all of the weight that these things can have upon a person, you are in no place to pass any kind of judgment or assumptions as to why a person chooses to take their own life.

Suicides of those who live a life in the public eye are an especially touchy subject. Journalists in particular are put in a difficult position when it comes to reporting on celebrity suicides.

Will writing about suicide spark other suicides? This is the leading question in the minds of journalists who are faced with the dilemma of whether or not to report on suicide cases.

When journalists do make the decision to write about an instance of suicide, how do they go about it? Ideally, it would be done with great care and respect to the deceased, their family and those who cared about that person.

But, as was seen with the case of Williams, this is certainly not always the way suicide stories are covered in the media.

From the over coverage of the method of suicide, to the language used in various articles published after the event, countless mistakes were made in the media coverage of Williams’ suicide.

People tend to forget that celebrities are still actual people – people with real feelings and real problems that are not always shown in the media. This is a key aspect to keep in mind when writing about a public figure’s suicide.

You never know someone’s entire story. As much as Williams’ fans would like to think they felt like they knew and understood him, there is no way to ever fully comprehend another person’s deepest thoughts and intrapersonal obstacles.