Friends reveal Robin Williams’ battles as suicide details emerge

Robin Williams committed suicide by hanging himself with a belt at his San Francisco Bay Area home, sheriff’s officials said Tuesday. Marin County Sheriff’s Lt. Keith Boyd said Robin Williams’ personal assistant found the actor Monday in a bedroom at his Tiburon home. Yahoo News correspondent Bianna Golodryga talks with Jamie Masada, founder of the Laugh Factory and a longtime friend of Williams. In 2011, Masada, with the help of psychologist Ildiko Tabori, started providing onsite therapy for performers at the Laugh Factory to help them cope with the highs and lows that often come with being an entertainer.

He would never let anybody get inside to know what was going on.

Jamie Masada, founder of the Laugh Factory

Mental health expert Dr. Jeff Gardere told Yahoo News that depression and substance abuse among performers is more common than one may think, and Williams was no exception. Toxicology test results on whether Williams had any drugs or alcohol in his system are weeks away. Police would not say whether the actor and comedian left a suicide note.