Reports Confirm Actress Margot Kidder Died By Suicide in May
Editor's Note
If you experience suicidal thoughts or have lost someone to suicide, the following post could be potentially triggering. You can contact the Crisis Text Line by texting “START” to 741741.
When actress Margot Kidder died on May 13 at the age of 69, no cause was released. On Thursday, a new report from the Associated Press revealed Kidder died by suicide. Kidder was known for playing Lois Lane in the original “Superman” films in the 1970s and ’80s.
Kidder was a mental health advocate who spoke openly about living with bipolar disorder and addiction. In 2001, she received the Courage in Mental Health Award from the California Women’s Mental Health Policy Council for her work bringing awareness to mental health issues.
“It’s a big relief that the truth is out there,” Maggie McGuane, Kidder’s daughter, told the Associated Press. “It’s important to be open and honest so there’s not a cloud of shame.”
Suicide is common among older women. According to recent data, women between the ages 45-64 have the highest rates of suicide, which have increased 60 percent between 2000 and 2016. It’s also a leading cause of death for women in this demographic.
If this news is hard for you, know you are not alone — and there is help for people who feel suicidal. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text “START” to 741-741. Head here for a list of crisis centers around the world.
Header image via Wikimedia Commons.
Renée Fabian was the features editor at The Mighty. She has also written for The Washington Post, VICE, Healthline, Talkspace, The Fix, The Establishment, The Culture Trip, and GRAMMY.com, among others. Renée was named a 2019 AHCJ Comparative Effectiveness Research fellow, a 2020 USC Center for Health Journalism California fellow, and holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of Southern California and a master's degree in psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles. You can follow her on Twitter @ryfabian.
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