Death of Robin Williams Underscores Shame of Depression in Hollywood

    LOS ANGELES, CA, August 13, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The death of Robin Williams today of a suspected suicide is shocking for most. But when you work with entertainment industry people every day, as Dr. Rebecca Roy does, suicidal thinking and actions are often barely below the surface.

Dr. Rebecca Roy, Ph.D. specializes in working with Entertainment Industry professionals. She is known for her work with young Hollywood and sees actors, writers, producers, agents and managers. Her website is www.theIndustryTherapist.com. Her tagline is "Staying Sane in an Insane Industry (TM)."

"I see Hollywood people who are so depressed, they can't get out of bed," said Dr. Roy. "These are well-known people you would never suspect feel this way. They seem to have it all; money, fame, an amazing career. But at the end of the day, they are often isolated and alone."

"It's the age-old story but the public is always so shocked," she said. "Oh, it can't be that guy or girl! They are so funny or beautiful or whatever." The truth is usually there is a well-hewn facade lurking just below the surface.

It is considered extremely shameful to have problems or suffer mental health issues; most Industry people fear they won't get hired if anyone knows.

"And, of course, many of those people closest to the stars keep the secret for fear of losing their job," Dr. Roy said. "Breaking through that wall of resistance can be an arduous task."

"The biggest issue I see with Hollywood people is the isolation and fear. It is that fear that 'someone will find out - or someone won't hire me because I'm depressed' that drives a lot of the secretive, shame-based behavior."

"That kind of shame, unfortunately, fuels isolation which is the exact opposite of what someone needs who is going through a clinical depression. A great deal of the work is getting the depressed person out of the house so we can treat it."

Dr. Roy says that the entertainment industry is woefully inadequate in its response to mental health issues. "We will always lose great artists to drug use and depression if the industry responds by recoiling when someone is dealing with a serious depression."

Dr. Rebecca Roy, Ph.D. is a Los Angeles-based psychotherapist who works with entertainment industry professionals. Her tagline is "Staying Sane in an Insane Industry (TM)." She is known particularly for her work with young Hollywood. She specializes in anxiety, depression, relationship issues, bipolar disorder, mood disorders, creative artists' issues and peak performance.

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