Comedians have an edge, have lived through stuff, and are not your average individuals, said one local comedian in reaction to the death of Robin Williams on Monday.
"From the perspective of someone who has dealt with this stuff, I think is this is just such a huge eye opener for why health literally has to be the number one priority for somebody with mental health issues," said Bryce Lokken, who is also a mental health awareness advocate with personal experience withmental health issues at certain points in his life. "It can't be your career, it can't be girls, it can't be money, it can't be your hobby. It can't even be comedy, because as soon as you start jeopardizing your mental health it doesn't matter how much money you have or how many friends you have. Robin Williams could afford any doctor he wanted. He could fly anywhere in the world to see any doctor he wanted but the thing is, it doesn't matter if you don't take care of your health first."
Williams was suffering from severe depression and had recently been seeking treatment, reports said.
When somebody with no job, no friends, no money ends their own life, people might not consider it surprising, observed Lokken, who is also a singer songwriter and member of local band Horses and Bayonets.
"But when somebody with the resources to do anything they want with their health, their life, their body, their mind and their time, it's an eye opener and you gotta take a look at the odds and put health in front of literally everything," said Lokken. "And I've had to do that, where I've had to say to my bosses, 'I can't be here today.' It's not good for my career to say 'You know what? As your marketing guy I'm going to leave now.'"
Lokken said there's a stigma attached to mental health issues.
"People don't understand that when I leave work because today is not a good day and go have lunch with my grandma and go to the gym and go read a book I'm doing it because that's what's better for my health," said Lokken.
He also said the news Williams took his own life was upsetting.
"So this is a shake-you-awake reminder that it can happen to any of us," he added. "And this is why I stay away from substance, this is why I get a good sleep at night, and this is why all my decisions in life are so calculated and slow and I'm not a spontaneous person."
But there is another side to it, as well.
"Struggling with this stuff and then being able to turn to art like comedy or music means you have the power to help a lot of people and provide a good message," said Lokken. "I think that's an important aspect of Robin Williams' career. There's a lot of positivity he provided to the world and I think anyone who struggles and then turns it into something positive will make a huge impact."
Locally there are many options for those struggling with mental health issues.
In an emergency consider the Crisis Prevention, Intervention & Information Centre for Northern BC Crisis Line 250-563-1214 or 1-888-562-1214.
Visit Northern Health's website at www.northernhealth.ca and click on mental health for a list of resources to help, including Youth Community Outpatient Service, Early Psychosis Intervention, Youth Treatment Center Mental Health and Addictions, and Adult Psychiatric Inpatient Units.
