I was deeply saddened to learn this week that the cause of the death of Margot Kidder, who was so wonderful as Lois Lane in the Christopher Reeve SUPERMAN films, was determined to have been the result of suicide. It was common knowledge that she was “one of us” after a very public breakdown in the '90s. Since I hadn't heard anything in a while, I was under the impression that she'd received the help she needed to beat the demon of mental illness that whispered in her ear. As a lifelong fan of all things Superman, I can't help but note that this is the second such death connected to the character. In 1959, George Reeves shot himself, traumatizing a generation of children who'd grown up watching him as the television Man of Steel. We've now lost a Superman and a Lois Lane to suicide.
If it can be said that anything “good” might come out of this latest revelation, it's that it provides an opportunity to further erase the stigma of depression and mental illness. When a Margot Kidder or Anthony Bourdain or Kate Spade loses life in this manner, people talk about it and move a little closer toward the compassion, understanding and empathy that we need to attain in this society in order help people before it's too late. The conversation helps to save lives.
This is the reason I continue to work with the Marsh to present my own personal story of struggle, THE WAITING PERIOD, free to the public. If I talk openly about my battle with depression, it can't help but encourage others to realize that there's no need for shame or embarrassment. That it's okay to reach out and ask for help.
Over the two years we've been engaged in this project, THE WAITING PERIOD has saved more lives than I can count. From the woman who flipped a coin to decide between coming to the free performance or heading to the Golden Gate Bridge to jump to the man who recognized through my portrayal how close his brother was to “ending it” enabling him to stage an intervention in time, we're making a difference.
We'd like to continue the project through December and we need your help. We need to raise another $35,000 to fund THE WAITING PERIOD through the end of the year. We've recently received generous financial support from Fremont Bank and OSIsoft that will enable us to continue this valuable work into the fall, but we still have a ways to go.
Can you please help us out by going to our GoFundMe link and making a tax deductible gift today?
I'll appreciate it, but not as much as the people you help save.
Thank You,
Brian Copeland
https://www.gofundme.com/mpmqrz-help-us-help-people-with-depression