Quote Originally Posted by rlditmars View Post
It saddens me greatly that some of the most talented individuals aren't able to escape the grip of depression. Chester B was another unique vocalist lost. When you look at the individuals that came out of the Seattle scene alone, we have had some of the most inspirational artists and incredible vocalists taken by depression. Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley, Scott Wieland, and Chris Cornell, all lost to suicide or overdose. I believe the overdose is still suicidal at its roots. My favorite of them is Alice in Chains who was the inspiration for my youngest daughter's name, Allison Layne.
Not even one of the greatest comedic minds of our time could control the impulse to end the suffering. When you think of Robin Williams your first thought is hilarity not depression. And yet, he too took his own life despite all of the laughter. Wish I had answers.

Yup, so true and so sad. I have the AIC sun logo tattooed on my leg, and I have Layne's lyric from Nutshell tattooed on my ribs "If I can't be my own, I'd feel better dead."
Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Prince come to mind as far as recent celeb deaths that are suicide/drug related as well.

I have to disagree with overdoses being suicidal though. I am an alcoholic and drug addict who has been clean and sober for over 4 1/2 years. I've been to a LOT of meetings, talked with a lot of people, both addicts and counselors, etc.. Granted, some suicides are intentional overdoses, but I know for a fact that overdoses can happen with no intent of dying. I overdosed twice, once was legally dead for what EMTs estimated 4-6 minutes and had they arrived 2 minutes later they would have been too late to revive me. I didn't want to die either time.