Mass. suicide rate matches national trend

The tragic suicides of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade have shed light on a national crisis that, according to recent data, continues to worsen in the Bay State and beyond.

And when a celebrity dies by suicide, it provides a shocking reminder of a bleak and often forgotten reality: People who seem to have it all may be suffering the most.

“A lot of people look at celebrities and they have what looks like the ideal life,” said Dr. David Kroll, psychiatrist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “It’s a jarring juxtaposition — what looks like the ideal life and the reality that someone would want to leave that life.”

Both Spade and Bourdain seemed to epitomize glamour and success. Spade, a fashion designer, was found hanged from a scarf in her Park Avenue home earlier this week. Bourdain — celebrity chef, author and TV personality — reportedly died by suicide yesterday.

These are only the most recent examples of celebrities who have taken their own lives in recent years. And the closer one looks at suicide trends, the more troubling they become. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday that suicides increased by 35 percent in Massachusetts between 1999 and 2016 — and a similar trend can be seen in nearly every state.

The report also shows more than half of those who died by suicide did not have a known diagnosed mental health condition.

Those numbers highlight a sometimes deadly problem that persists for people battling these disorders: there is still, despite some progress, massive stigma surrounding mental illness.

“You can’t see it,” said Dr. Roy Perlis, a professor of psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. “You look at Kate Spade or Anthony Bourdain and they don’t look sick. For mental illness, you just can’t tell.”

That makes it harder for people to view mental illness as a legitimate condition, Perlis said.

“While people are hearing about discoveries like genes that contribute to depression or bipolar disorder, there’s still this nagging sense of, ‘Are these real diseases or are they made up?’” Perlis said. “And that’s what we need to push back on.”

According to the data, the top reasons for suicide were: relationship problems, substance use, recent crises and physical health problems.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, you can find help by calling the Samaritans Statewide Hotline at 877-870-4673.