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The sad and fascinating saga of the late Gary Coleman continues unabated. Best known for his role as the lovable, smart mouthed "Arnold" on the television show "Diff'rent Strokes," Coleman passed away last month of an intracranial brain hemorrhage, after an alleged fall in his home. He was taken off of life-support by his ex-wife, Shannon Price, and died instantly.
Though the pint-sized Coleman was a giant talent, with incredible success in his early years, his life post–"Diff'rent Strokes" was anything but. He suffered from numerous health problems, including seizures and kidney failure. Eventually he underwent a kidney transplant.
But this was just the tip of the iceberg, because his emotional conflicts dominated his adult life. After the cancellation of "Different Strokes" in 1986, Coleman was eternally viewed by the public as the 10-year-old "Arnold," even though he was nearly 18 years old.
With Hollywood work not as plentiful as before, he turned to his trust fund, which was estimated to hold nearly $8.3 million. He was shocked to discover there was only $220,000 remaining. This resulted in a lawsuit against his parents, who were his managers, and his agent for misappropriation of his funds. He won the lawsuit but collected no more than $1.28 million.
Coleman was so devastated by the situation as well as the downward spiral of his professional and personal life that he became clinically depressed and admitted that he made several suicide attempts.
In addition to his depression, his adult life continued to be marred by anger, drug problems, failed relationships, a failed marriage, a domestic violence charge and financial problems. Like Michael Jackson who had a very troubled life and also met with an untimely death, Coleman will live on in our hearts as the adorable, witty "Arnold," who immortalized the words "What you talkin' about Willis?"
As with any tragedy, it would be a waste to not learn lessons that can help so many others.
In this case, Coleman's is a cautionary tale of what happens when emotional issues, fueled particularly by pain and depression, are not addressed. We can only wonder how different Coleman's life would have been if he was diagnosed and treated for his depression, instead of suffering silently and self-medicating with drugs and falling in to a behavioral pattern of anger, inappropriate behavior and unhealthy relationships.The reality is that Gary Coleman, Michael Jackson and even actress Maia Campbell (whose life was almost destroyed by an untreated bipolar depressive disorder, pictured below) are not alone in their emotional pain. In many ways, they represent a major tragedy of the black community: undiagnosed and untreated mental health issues, especially clinical depression, in all its variations.
Black women, for example, are disproportionately affected by this issue. The Congressional Black Caucus has cited statistics that show that only 7 percent of African-American women with depression receive treatment. Suicide, which often is related to untreated or incomplete clinical treatment of depression, is a top-leading cause of death for young black women in the 14 to 34 age group, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Black men do not fare much better when it comes to suicide. In his book "Lay My Burden Down," co-authored with Amy Alexander, Dr. Alvin Poussaint points out that between 1980 and 1995, the suicide rate of black males doubled to about eight deaths per 100,000 people. Dr. Poussaint calls it "an unspoken crisis in the African-American community."
Watch author of "Black Pain" Terrie Williams, internist and psychiatric medication specialist Dr. Virgie Bright Ellington and psychologist Dr. Esther Hyatt and I discuss Gary Coleman and signs of depression in the black community:
Stay tuned for the next part of our Depression series, "Black Women Under-Diagnosed for Depression."
Dr. Jeff Gardere, better known as America's psychologist is one of the most widely sought-after experts in the field of mental health. In addition to having a private practice in Manhattan, he has garnered a reputation as being a top motivational and keynote speaker, empowerment and media coach. He now appears as the relationship expert on VH-1's 'Dad Camp.' 
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By: catherine on 7/12/2010 4:04PM
Black on Black crime will continue as long as Blacks sit back and do nothing about it. I give God praise that I didn't live back in Slavery yet I know we are still in a form of slavery, especially when I visit the prisons and see where the prisons are located at.
Black on Black crime is deep but white on black crime is worst. It is so deep and so normal that even our own foolish blacks don't tempt to do anything about it, to talk about it is nothing if nothing is going to be done about it.
When a male or female gets shot in the back its murder “Murder” and it does not matter who shot him or her. But when a officer of the law shoots and kills anyone it should hold the same merits. Murder is murder and there are many blacks filling up grave space today that didn't have to die.
Color of the skin will always and have always made a great different here in America. Blacks are not free and have never been free. Freedom means "No limitations", or "Equal Opportunity” we don't have either although the White in leadership would like for us to believe it. And many blacks or people of color tell themselves they do until they try and do something that the white race has decreed that they can’t do. Like live next door etc; once the word is out that Blacks are moving in the neighbourhoods diversity disappear . It’s okay to do CNA, Baby-sat their children, cook their meals but it isn’t okay to marry their love ones, they might even think they like you until you cross that line.
When ever a person of Color denies the White race anything a problem soon occur. Take a good look inside the prisons Mr/Mrs Ernest/Ernestine. Visit for yourself and be honest for once in your life. Where are the prisons for the White race etc;? The prison for the Black race or People of Color are all located in the White Suburbs or the Small White towns. And the white man is still building them. Notice the more they build the more get filled, it’s like they know when to build the prisons, and when they will be filled. Who’s hired to watch over these inmates? Whites etc; There are no blacks or people of color working on the police force in these little towns because there are no people of color or blacks living in these towns. These jobs are created so that the white race etc; can have income and comfort. There isn’t even transportation in and out of these towns for the black or people of color to visit there love ones.
The bus great hound, Amtrak etc; does not go there, and the cabs and taxis doesn't work on weekend or they stops around 2 p.m or must be called from another town making it almost impossible to get service if one gets to the town by bus or train they must have a place to stay over night because buses or trains that go to these towns only go there once a day.
Money is to be made for the white man no matter what is going on. Yes the white man looks out for his own so when Abraham Lincoln dropped slavery, they dropped him in the head with a bullet; he took away their income and lively hood. And what did these brainy but wickiest people do, they created another means of survival. Black prisons in white towns mean income. No longer did the Black or people of color have to be bed warmers or breeders or work in the whites fields and homes. They now breed willingly. Lincoln freed Blacks from one confinement and stupidity led into another.
The Willie Lynch letter might not be real but it’s contains are. Black people and people of color are still looked upon as sub-human beings. The things that happen to us in court and out of court do not happen to these pale people. It life sentences is to be given for using drugs or selling drugs the prisons should be filled with Whites. They would truly have to rush build more prisons.
If robberies bring life sentences then the prisons should be filled with whites. “The smaller the crimes the bigger the fines”. Why because most blacks and people of color does not get the opportunity to get up there in high office to steal or investor.
The white man or woman sentences are nothing compared to these petty thieves that the blacks are caught doing. A white will commit suicide then to go to prison leaving behind wounded families from their selfishness and cowardice stands larking waiting for them. Their children kill them much more then any race because they are much more crueller then people of color, as time have developed blacks have become copy cats. The people of color are imitating these murdering thieves they claim to hate.
Tim Crow is alive and kicking, killing a mocking bird can be found all over the USA. Light bright only meant one was born by mixed race in the days of old. Now it means nothing at all. Children are born every day of men and women of interracial marriage that truly loves each other but are afraid of what awaits their children.
Our president is only one of many that escape this horrible life that mixed children have to endure. Yet he’s not out of the dark yet. If some of these white folks could have their way they would lynch him without a second glance.
Do the cops shoot blacks more then whites? Yes they do. And everybody knows it. Do whites commit crime? Yes they do. It’s who you know and what you know that helps.
Whites kill and bury their victims, family etc; blacks foolishly turn on each other, sell each other out. Silent is Golden sometimes. Yet so bitterly cruel. Murder is murder, you can’t give a life, you shouldn’t take a life. Whose gonna pay for all the rape babies born doing slavery? Will God forgive these murderers and rapist and not forgive these men and women in prison that harmed only themselves by using drugs, selling drugs? Which is worst selling drugs or taking a life? With each person thrown in prison for life or die in prison because some judge or lawyer felt they didn’t deserve to live out here in society will God forgive them? For all the abortions that is taking place will God forgive them. If what is done in the dark comes to the light the white man has Hell to pay.
Someone said this is Hell. No it's only one step into hell if you don't know the Lord.
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By: Linda Bosley on 7/12/2010 7:59PM
Black people have dealt with oppression for a very long time. We innately know that we are a spiritual people and psychiatric drugs that alter brain chemistry is NOT the answer to the barriers in our lives.(i.e.,racism). Psychiatry has been around since Freud--over 100 years. Their track record for bettering the condition of Black people is non-existent, however, their track record for lining the pockets of the big drug companies by giving psychiatric labels to normal human behavior is well documented. Give people the power of choice in their lives--they won't be depressed. Don't drug their minds!
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By: emalekev on 7/12/2010 8:08PM
Gary Coleman had every right to be depressed. Anybody would if they worked hard all there childhood while sick & didn't have nothing to show for it.Only to find out there parents mishandled and took the money for themselves. That is enough to make somebody drive over cliff. Whether he had a history of depression in his biological family is irevalant
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By: ann on 7/12/2010 8:39PM
I wish I had known about depression when my mom was living. I believe that what my mom had, she was so quite qnd sweet. She never really trust any one. She always had her head down and when you start an conversation with her, it seems like she was fine, As I look at things now i can see that my mom had a depression problem. This is nothing to play with. If I knew what I know now I could of help my mom. Having all the money in the world do not help this problem.
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By: bigdrob1 on 7/12/2010 9:48PM
It all goes back to the 1960's ,the way us older bastards lived.We did not know if we were coming or going. We knew only 1 thing if you are poor your are going to WAR!!! If you were black, You were going to be the 1st to DIE!!!! If you thought you were "normal" like me. You knew where you stood in the world.When I first heard of depression It was in a fellow drunkards song at the time "Manic Depression". I did not know what it mean't but I liked it. [still like it today{classic Hendrix}in my work van in NYC outside Cafe Wha in the Village. My favorite Drunkard spot at the time. I did not know I was a 'poor little depressed,depleted child' at the time. Even if I did not know what it meant.
die
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By: Charlie Davidson on 11/06/2010 10:56AM
Don't let the guys problems spark arguments, its a disease we all suffer.. why not just enjoy life and play sports, some bingo, or something..
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