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What can Robin Williams' death teach us about suicide?
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The coverage can hopefully add something constructive to the tidal wave of media attention, which The Huffington Post reported can sometimes lead to more suicides, especially among young people. - photo by istockphoto.com/BCFC

Millions took to the Internet on Monday night to remember actor-comedian Robin Williams, whodied at age 63 in a suspected suicide.

Williams was best known for his stand-up and comedic roles that defined his career, and, while he admitted to a lifelong struggle with depression and addiction, many were shocked by his sudden death.

"I could not be more stunned by the loss of Robin Williams, mensch, great talent, acting partner, genuine soul," fellow comedian Steve Martin tweeted.

But the media hasn't just played a role in helping people grieve the "Aladdin" legend; it's also used Williams' death as a chance to talk about suicide prevention and depression.

The coverage can hopefully add something constructive to the tidal wave of media attention, which The Huffington Post reported can sometimes lead to more suicides, especially among young people. One study published earlier this yearfound that high-intensity news coverage of individual suicides contributed to teen suicides in the 1980s and 1990s.

Reddit voluntarily edited Williams' Reddit "Ask Me Anything" from this year to include suicide prevention hotlines.
"Reddit is often criticised as a hotbed of bullying and abuse but, for this small but incredibly sensitive gesture, they deserve applause for today at least. Kudos, Reddit," Pando writer Paul Carr wrote.

Forbes also ran a piece offering solutions to help prevent suicide and painting Williams' suicide as a reminder that depression knows no age.

"Our picture of suicide often tends to be young, like Kurt Cobain or Sylvia Plath. That probably comes from our tendency to romanticize depression, a deadly disease that is not romantic," Forbes' Matthew Herper wrote. "William(s)’s life brought millions of people laughter and catharsis. His death robs us of that, and robs his family of him. If any good can come of this, it might be to remind us that people of any age can be suicidal."

Are you or someone you know depressed or having suicidal thoughts? Check the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's warning signs.

Email: chjohnson@deseretnews.com
Twitter: ChandraMJohnson

Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.