More about Kate Spade's Suicide

Consider this a footnote on yesterday’s post about Kate Spade's suicide. To clarify any misimpressions left by Spade’s sister, her estranged husband Andy Spade said this:

Mr. Spade said that though his wife had suffered from anxiety at points during their relationship and marriage, her serious bouts of depression only began about six years ago, at the age of 49.

“Kate suffered from depression and anxiety for many years. She was actively seeking help and working closely with her doctors to treat her disease, one that takes far too many lives. We were in touch with her the night before and she sounded happy. There was no indication and no warning that she would do this. It was a complete shock. And it clearly wasn’t her. There were personal demons she was battling,” he said.

Her sister may or may not have been right that she was suffering from bipolar illness, or else she may have concluded that the treatment Spade had been receiving was ineffective. Thus, that she should try rehab. The two versions could as well complement as contradict each other.

Note that Spade was working with more than one doctor. And note also that the age of onset of her most serious depression was 49—suggesting that it might have had something to do with menopause. With the caveat, that this is pure speculation.

To say that she was battling with personal demons means nothing. Surely, he did not mean that she required an exorcism.

It is commonplace for people who commit suicide to sound great just before they kill themselves. One would not expect a lay person to see this. But, to say that the suicide of someone who is severely depressed was completely unexpected… that is obviously absurd.