It is hard and tragic to think of the deaths by suicide last week of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. What is obvious is all the money in the world, fame and acclaim do not control demons that lie hidden within a person.

On the surface, Kate Spade had it all. The attractive 55-year-old had a reported net worth of $200 million. She founded the designer brand Kate Spade New York. Spade had a long term marriage and a 13 -year- old daughter to whom she left her last earthly thoughts in a suicide note. https://www.celebritynetworth.com

61-year-old Anthony Bourdain traveled the world for CNN as a celebrity chef, author, travel documentarian, and TV personality and had a luminous girlfriend actress Asia Argente. He allegedly had a bank roll of approximately $16 million dollars, more than enough to support a comfortable lifestyle for a man who had lived paycheck to paycheck until he was 44.

So, the obvious question is WHY did these two well known people who had creative careers, adoration plus people who loved them -- end their lives by hanging themselves?

There are no easy answers and no one will really ever know for sure. Perhaps the victims themselves would not have a viable answer other than life had become unlivable and felt hopeless. If they took an extra second and were able to reflect, they might think of the unspeakable pain they'd inflict on those they leave behind. Obviously, some can't.

I think suicide is an impulse. Some get lucky. If they wait, 10 seconds, 30 seconds, a minute; that self-destructive impulse can pass. I have tremendous respect for Jada Pinkett Smith’s post, “One thing I’ve learned in my life over the years is that mental health is something we should practice daily, not just when issues arise. We should take care of our mind and spirit in the same way we do our body. With the suicides of Kate and Anthony it brought up feelings of when I was in such despair and had considered the same demise...often. In the years I spent towards my healing, many moons ago, I realized the mind and heart can be extremely delicate without the foundation of a formidable spirit. What I eat, what I watch on TV, what music I listen to, how I care for my body, my spiritual practice, what people I surround myself with, the amount of stress I allow and so on... either contribute to or deteriorate my mental health. Mental health is a daily practice for me. It’s a practice of deep self-love. May Kate and Anthony Rest In Peace. Many may not understand... but I do, and this morning I have the deepest gratitude that I pulled through.”

Thank goodness you did pull through, Ms. Smith. And thank you for having the courage to share your pain and give others hope that they can prevail even if they get caught in a web of despair.