Why did many artists commit suicide?

[windy_dayy]

Why? Just why?

I am not in their shoes so I don't know everything. And I apologize if I sound dumb. But as an artist, isn't it a common sense that you'll have a better life than most? many friends too? I personally don't have many friends and I wish I had more. If they have desperation, isn't it easier for them to work with therapists? If they get bullied by the company, is it too hard to quit? Sorry for my bad word choice, but I don't understand why they chose to end their life while there are still hope and better ways to solve the problem.

I don't mean to upset or offend anybody. I genuinely wanted to know. Why did so many artists commit suicide (especially recently)? My beloved Chester Bennington passed away 2 years ago and I literally cried. My desperation (yes I have it) dramatically went up for the next few weeks and til this day I still feel sad for him. And now it's Sulli... I am not even her fan but there's still something heavy holding my breath when I heard that news. My brain is still trying to process to see if that's real or just a dream...

 

 

[Pyron]

Looking at statistics I see double to ten times more higher rates to dying to unnatural causes (suicide included) for artists compared to normal population. pop and rock stars live on average 25 years less as well. Dunno how reliable are these numbers, but it's certain that celebrities have a higher chance to suicide than the norm.

Money and fame aren't remedies for sadness and depression. Maybe they are worse as possession add more pressure. The more you have, the more you need to do to protect what you have. Also, friendship at this level may be rarer as you have less assurance for who is there for you truly instead of your fame and money. Especially with more prominent/senior artists. They already achieved a lot. Some may think they'd have less pressure because of that. However, in reality they may feel even more pressure.

There aren't much/enough studies about this, but celebrities face stuff normal folks don't. For instance, the constant scrutiny and pressure of the public from being in the spotlight. We don't know the true extend of the mental damage those circumstances can cause. Most of them just wing it. Because they have more resources, we think they need less support which may be just the opposite. They may need even more help than regular folks. Also, artists tend to pursuit perfection of their art. I don't think singers/dancers/entertainers aren't different in this regard. This trait could cause mental problems.

Also, with increasingly access to social media, they face harassment in a much higher level. Watching that show about hate comments with Sulli, they mentioned they can get paranoid and affect their relationship with the world outside.

They can't even do normal thing like go to hospital as they may fear that private information may leak out (and more often than not it will like airport schedule and such) or it may cause misunderstanding and rumors that may jeopardize their career.

In SK they have their own unique cultural and social situations that may contribute more to this as well. Idols have very irregular lives as well. They can't socialize normally. Their diets are very restrictive, specially at developing ages. And sleeping hours are very irregular. These by itself could cause serious mental illnesses over time if left unchecked (and for most cases they are left unchecked till it's too late).

In reality mental healthy is still poorly grasped everywhere. We learnt a lot about the brain in the last decade, but we probably are still far from total understanding. Also, lot of us still operate on very outdated views of mental care.

This is for the normal folks. For people in exceptional situations we probably understand their mental health even less.

For suicide prevention, it has to be a collective effort in order to be effective IMO. I think in celebrity's case, we leave this to their discretion or think he or she should seek help individually. Again, I don't think this is effective actually. When this happens, it's usually the last moments and it's a die roll basically. Some may get lucky. Some won't. Prevention should probably be done in a larger scale and be a constant vigilance. Sadly entertainment industry can be the worse at talking about these issues.

[Marshmallows]

I always ask myself this question as well because in my mind someone who has fame, beauty and money must live a fulfilled life. The truth is that there a huge downsides to being famous like the lack of privacy and hate comments/witch hunts. People can barely handle one bully and now imagine an entire nation hating you for nothing? The truth is idols are constantly under the mercy or scrutiny of the public eye and one wrong word or action can ruin their entire lifes. Can you imagine living like that? The lack of freedom (of expression) must be like choking. Like a bird in a golden cage. 

Not money nor beauty alone can make you a happy person. 

There's also behind the scene stuff. Lots of idols are in slave like contracts, experience sexual assault and train under hard hard conditions. A lot of them had mental health issues before they even became idols. 

[Ronnie Mars]

Depression can hit anyone. Doesn't matter what gender you are, doesn't matter the upbringing you had, doesn't matter you're wealthy or not. People may seem like they have it all but we never really know what happened behind closed doors. It all just proves that all the money, all the success in this world can never really prevent someone from being depressed.

[Tae.]

Depression doesn’t care about ur bank account. And all those things they gain as celebrities come with a lost. Balance

[windy_dayy]

56 minutes ago, Pyron said:

Money and fame aren't remedies for sadness and depression. Maybe they are worse as possession add more pressure. The more you have, the more you need to do to protect what you have.

...They may need even more help than regular folks. Also, artists tend to pursuit perfection of their art. I don't think singers/dancers/entertainers aren't different in this regard. This trait could cause mental problems.

Also, with increasingly access to social media, they face harassment in a much higher level. Watching that show about hate comments with Sulli, they mentioned they can get paranoid and affect their relationship with the world outside.

They can't even do normal things......

.....Idols have very irregular lives as well. They can't socialize normally. Their diets are very restrictive, specially at developing ages. And sleeping hours are very irregular. These by itself could cause serious mental illnesses over time if left unchecked (and for most cases they are left unchecked till it's too late).

In reality mental healthy is still poorly grasped everywhere. We learnt a lot about the brain in the last decade, but we probably are still far from total understanding. Also, lot of us still operate on very outdated views of mental care.

.....

Quoted the best things in your post.

Good Read. I like your point (or facts).

[starsocks]

Nobody wants to believe it, but life is kinda crap no matter who you are

[windy_dayy]

Yeah. I can see everybody complains about their life. And they might think others have better.

[felidae]

But as an artist, isn't it a common sense that you'll have a better life than most? Better life materialistically, sure. many friends too? Good, genuine friends? I have heard too many stories about celebrities being lonely in the centre of the party I personally don't have many friends and I wish I had more. If they have desperation, isn't it easier for them to work with therapists? assuming every therapist are good and professional, yes it is if they have time. But many of them don't even know they need one. And if we're talking about SK (or any east asia, or asia in general) mental health is something seen as "nonexist" and taboo If they get bullied by the company, is it too hard to quit?they quit, then what? Some people find it hard to quit because pressures from bosses, people around them, or from their own doubt to themselves

Having money and world beneath you won't guarantee happiness. And people can't stop comparing themselves with others. Sometimes being grateful made things easier (it does, for me). Took me some months to realize that people I envy may have harder life than I am.

Being public figure isn't easy - one have to have a really, really thick skin. Not many people do, especially nowadays.

[Xoxo7]

Money doesn't make people happy 

I don't know why people act like rich people always have a better life or doesn't have problems just because they are rich 

[Elscian]

Better life or worse? They have waay more to handle than we may have.  Heck they don't even have privacy and have to worry extra about their security 24/7, have to always try and look presentable, can get scrutinised for even the smallest lack of expression, deal with bullying from the masses.... and what not.  They may make money but it's not like it's coming easy,  their schedules are always packed and barely have time for themselves.  And if they take longer breaks,  their fragile careers are at risk. 

I may not be in their shoes,  but just thinking about it makes me stressed.  I guess im one of those people who cannot handle fame.  At some point,  maybe the celebs become like that too. But because of depression maybe they see no way out of it.

[AdorableHater]

What may seem like an amazing life to you, it may not be to the artist. Imagine the pressure, the overworked hours, the stalking fans, the haters, always on tour, no space for private life... It can have a negative impact on their life, to the extent where the bad things override the good things and they no longer have the will to live. I hope that answers your question.

 

To people going through hard times, please concentrate on things that give you joy. Life will get easier, you will feel lighter. Have a good day and lots of love from me!

[Mr.Skinny-penis]

because when they die 

thats when people listens

[Queens_Marina]

The thing is that media outlets, reporters and k-netz will mourn over Sulli now, but forget it after a week and then continue to bully and slander idols like Blackpink (for example) until the same happens to one of them. A devilish cycle. It's like a tree - the leaf changes colors but the root stays the same. There has to be change of heart, otherwise there will be no change in the idol world at all.

A lot of people think that Idols or Celebrities don't have the right to complain, which is wrong. They work just as hard as the rest of us - they may have a lot of money, but remember that money is not the thing that makes you happy. You can have everything and still feel empty. You can have great friends, but when there is nothing but darkness and hate around you (like hate comments for everything you do) you just can't do it anymore. 

There has to come a groundbreaking change in idol culture in South Korea.

[Corysilk]

mental illness can affect anyone. 

[Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo]

Because mental health

[Keita]

Because they feel they failed to meet society's expectations and pressure. Thus they felt depressed and want to be free from that