There has been a lot of talk online today about the recent death of chef/TV personality Anthony Bourdain. He reportedly committed suicide a few days after reports that fashion designer Kate Spade also committed suicide. This all comes as San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Solomon Thomas has sat down with the media to discuss his sister’s suicide and the work he is doing moving forward to help others. Most recently, he sat down with Matt Maiocco for a podcast. Check it out here.
Niners Nation is a big enough site that I have no doubt there are people visiting the site who are dealing with depression. Issues of depression and suicide have grown to the point that they should be viewed as a public health crisis, and any help that can be provided is critical.
We all interact on a regular basis, and while we know some personal details about each other (particularly about me!), it’s virtually impossible to know if a person you’re interacting with on Twitter is going through depression or any other sort of mental health issue.
Given all the recent news on the topic, I thought it would make sense to provide a few resources for people who might be going through these kinds of issues. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text 273TALK to 839863. If you need a professional to speak to, you can search for therapists here.
I’m not a mental health expert, but with the platform available here at NN, I just wanted people to know there is always someone to talk to if you are facing depression. It’s not always fair to place the onus on the person to seek help, but given the nature of the online environment, I hope this is helpful.