I was very sad to hear the news that on August 11, 2014, Robin Williams, famed actor and comedian, died at the age of 63 from an apparent suicide at his California home. For such an accomplished man to commit suicide is so hard to comprehend and leaves us with so many unanswered questions. Reports say that he suffered severe depression, battled addiction much of his life and some reports say that he likely suffered from bipolar disorder. While I never had the pleasure of meeting him, I was a big fan of Robin Williams and his work, and my heart goes out to his family and those grieving his loss. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a tragedy to bring much needed attention to important issues. Maybe his story will lead someone else who is suffering to reach out for help. Maybe with just a little more information we can have the strength to reach out to someone we know who is suffering from addiction or depression and offer help to prevent such a tragic result. As a criminal defense attorney, I see far too many people who also do not get the help they need and become another statistic.
So many celebrities have battled addiction or mental illness over the years, and there are so many more "unknowns" and families who struggle with the pain from these afflictions daily. Many of our own lives have been touched by addiction, depression, or other mood disorders or personality disorders (such as Bipolar or Borderline Personality), because millions of people have varying degrees of these conditions. Addiction and mental health issues know no age, race or class, and those affected often suffer in silence without reaching out to anybody for help.
There are many reasons why afflicted people do not get the help they need. Sometimes, they don't know where to FIND THE INFORMATION. Other times, substance abuse or mental disorders cloud their judgment, and they can't see that they need help. Whatever the reason, they often don't seek help until they have problems at home, at work, at school, or legal problems. When their behavior results in a criminal charge and they face jail time or other serious consequences, they may see that they need help. A good criminal defense lawyer can not only guide them through the legal process but can also point them in the right direction with recovery, treatment and counseling.
The Law office of John R. Discavage, P.A. represents many people with addiction, depression and mental health disorders when they are charged with a criminal or traffic offense like theft, possession of CDS, driving under the influence or DWI and other crimes. We often refer clients to reputable substance abuse and mental health facilities in Frederick, Maryland, and around the State of Maryland to get help for addiction or mental health issues. We competently handle criminal defense cases, so our clients can focus on recovery, treatment or therapy. Contact us at www.criminallawyer-md.com if you have been charged with a crime and we can help you. The attorneys and staff in our office competently handle your legal matter but also care enough to listen. We help our clients find help and treatment in hopes that they do not just become another statistic in the criminal justice sytem.
Other helpful Maryland links:
http://www.mcc-center.com/substance.html Maryland Counseling Center http://www.samhsa.gov Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services https://www.nimh.nih.gov National Institute of Mental Health http://www.frederickcountymd.gov/bhs Frederick, Maryland Behavioral Health Services http://www.fmh.org/behavioralhealth Frederick Memorial Hospital http://serenitytreatmentcenter.com Serenity Treatment Center