Celebrated fashion designer, Kate Spade, tragically ended her life on June 5, 2018, at the age of 55 years old. The designer committed suicide in her New York apartment. While the fashion and entertainment industry are stunned by Spade's tragic death, those closest to her feared this day would come.
Kate Spade's Battle With Mental Health
The designer reportedly hung herself with a scarf and was discovered by her maid in such state. The police found a suicide note next to her body which was addressed to her 13-year-old daughter.
While more is being revealed about Spade and her personal life, her older sister Reta Brosnahan Saffo opened up about her sister's mental health issues and why her death was "not unexpected".
Saffo spoke to Kansas Star and stated that she believed her sister was suffering from a debilitating mental illness for the past 3-4 years and urged her sister to seek help numerous times. Saffo also stated that her sister was bipolar and that the disorder "finally took its toll" on her.
"A very tragic and sad ending to the life of a very colorful and delightful being," her sister stated.
The law enforcement unit investigating Spade's death is now suggesting that Spade was also depressed due to her husband, Andy Spade, wanting to divorce her. At the time of her death, Spade and her husband, who had been married since 1994, were not living together. Spade's husband was staying in a nearby apartment.
Her husband also told police that Spade was drinking a lot and was depressed over business problems.
In addition to her husband, Spade leaves behind her daughter, Frances Beatrix, 13.
After selling her eponymous label to Liz Claiborne in 2006, Kate Spade, the designer, was left with virtually no right to use her name. https://t.co/FBuA0HFHY6 pic.twitter.com/B1Ua4pduPo — THE FASHION LAW (@TheFashionLaw) June 6, 2018
Mental Illness
Oscar-winning actor, Robin Williams, took his life in 2014 after a long battle with depression. Singer Chester Bennington from the American Rock band Linkin Park died by suicide in July 2017. Bennington reportedly also suffered from severe depression.
In America, over 40 million people have a mental health condition. Of those who are suffering from a mental illness at least 56 percent do not seek help or treatment for it.
In young adults, the rates of depression have increased from 5.9 percent to 8.2 percent between the years of 2012-2015. Health officials are urging people who could be suffering from some form of mental illness to seek help immediately.
