At the beginning of January, I contributed a piece to “Idol Chatter” positing that spinning Britney Spears’ then increasingly curious behavior as a drug problem was far more acceptable in America than admitting to suffering from a mental health disorder. I concluded the piece by voicing my hope that once Britney found her own stability she might share with the country her own struggles and by so doing help the average American battling depression.
I thought about the piece again yesterday in light of recent published reports that Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling contemplated suicide while battling depression during a particularly rough patch in her 20s, including a divorce from her first husband and living on the dole.
“Mid-20s life circumstances were poor and I really plummeted,” Rowling told a reporter for Edinburgh University’s Student magazine. “We’re talking suicidal thoughts here, we’re not talking ‘I’m a little bit miserable’.”
“I have never been remotely ashamed of having been depressed. Never,” the best-selling author continued. “What’s to be ashamed of? I went through a really rough time and I am quite proud that I got out of that.”
And this is exactly what I was talking about: One of the world’s richest women and most-beloved authors not only openly admits to having suicidal thoughts, but doesn’t think it’s something of which to be ashamed; but rather, finds it a source of pride.
As the AP reports, the Dementors in the Harry Potter series were inspired by her own depression, but Rowling is using her own personal Patronus charm to shine light on the subject matter and dispel the stigma surrounding depression. Here’s hoping Britney will take up the wand and run with it…
posted March 25, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Many flowers bloom only when the plant from which they would bud is stressed. This seems to be another example of this principle. Rowling has found a great way to dowrk through and even defeat her depression. I hope Spears’ family and “handlers” allow her as much space and time.
posted March 26, 2008 at 10:33 am
As someone who suffered from chronic depression most of my life (as a child and an adult) I celebrate Ms. Rowling’s openness. I, too, went through some pretty rough times. I, too, was very suicidal and I, too, am proud that I survived and thrived. We need to hear and celebrate the success stories.
Far too often we treat any personal problem as a flaw that can be “rehabilitated”.
posted March 26, 2008 at 12:00 pm
There certainly is nothing to be ashamed of if you’ve been the victim of depression; on the other hand IDEATIONS of SUICIDE is VERY SERIOUS and needs to be handled in a professional manner with a licensed/registered mental healthcare professional!!!
I think it is socially irresponsible for her to verbalize that she has had thoughts of suicide. As impressionable as young readers are they do not need to be given any encouragement in contemplating this horrible act. It will only bring heart-ache and devastation to those close to them if they indeed do entertain or act out those negative thoughts. Please let us all be more socially and moralely responsible and advocate seeking medical/psychiatric help to address those ideas…we have enough death,and destruction in this world, let’s not add to it.