Julie Burchill's Son Jack Landesman Takes His Own Life Aged 29
'Look After The People You Love', Urges Julie Burchill As She Reveals Her Son Has Taken His Own Life
Sara C Nelson— Huffington Post UK
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Julie Burchill has revealed that her "beloved" 29-year-old son Jack Landesman has taken his own life.
The columnist urged her friends to “look after the people you love” as she shared the sad news in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
In the public post, Burchill wrote:
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Jack Landesman was Julie Burchill's son with writer Cosmo Landesman
"My beloved son Jack Landesman killed himself earlier this week. He is at peace now and in pain no longer and of course I don't believe that life ends with death, so I am lucky. Look after the people you love, as I tried to and failed. Thank you for all your good wishes and offers of support, but I have my Dan, who was a wonderful stepfather to my poor boy for more than half of his life. The love of my friends is a wonderful source of fun in my life, but excuse me if I don't need it right now. Always, Julie."
The 55-year-old followed up the post with the poem The Little Boy Found, by William Blake and the poem “Son”, which she says was written by the Russian Jewish poet Pavel Antokolsky, a year after the death of his 18-year-old son Vladimir.
Jack’s father is Burchill’s former husband, the writer Cosmo Landesman.
Burchill's first son Robert was the product of her marriage to Tony Parsons. The marriage broke down when Burchill began a lesbian relationship with Charlotte Raven, whose brother Daniel became her third husband.
"Every time I've left a family, I've gone on to be much happier. I have two sons, one I don't see and one who lives with me, for my sins. That's Jack, who's 22. He's the apple of my eye, my Achilles heel."
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Julie Burchill announced the sad news on Facebook
Jack Landesman
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Useful websites and helplines:
Samaritans, open 24 hours a day, on 08457 90 90 90
Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393
Young Minds offers information to young people about mental health and emotional wellbeing
HopeLine runs a confidential advice helpline if you are a young person at risk of suicide or are worried about a young person at risk of suicide. Mon-Fri 10-5pmand 7pm-10pm. Weekends 2pm-5pm on 0800 068 41 41
HeadMeds - a straight-talking website on mental health medication
How To Help Someone Struggling with Mental Health issues
Show concern about them and let them know that you have noticed something different about them recently(01 of05)
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If this leads them to open up, listen to what they are finding difficult without interrupting or asking too many questions(02 of05)
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Validate what they have said and reassure them that it is good that they have told you and that you would like to help If you feel able to, offer to meet them regularly to try to support them with their difficulties(03 of05)
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If you are concerned that you are out of your depth, encourage them to seek help and get information for them about how to do so(04 of05)
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If you are worried that they are so depressed that they may pose a significant risk to themselves, you need to tell someone in a position of responsibility(05 of05)
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10 common myths surrounding depression
Myth: Your doctor won't take you seriously(01 of10)
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Truth: They will. And they will help you. And if they don't? Just see another one. Or call one of the mental health charities who will be able to offer you advice. (credit:Alamy)
Myth: Self harm is just ‘attention-seeking’(02 of10)
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Truth: Depression is a real illness with real symptoms. It's not a sign of weakness or something you can "snap out of" by "pulling yourself together". (credit:Alamy)
Myth: You're too young to be depressed(03 of10)
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Truth: You have permission to give the finger to anyone who says that to you. It's not an age-specific illness. It can happen to anyone and everyone, and don't feel you have "no right" to be depressed just because you're young. (credit:Alamy)
Myth: Everyone will have to know(04 of10)
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Truth: Unless you get it tattooed across your forehead, they won't. You only have to tell the people you want to tell. (credit:Alamy)
Myth: There's something massively wrong with you(05 of10)
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Truth: Yes, you're suffering from depression, but it doesn't mean you're not normal. (credit:Alamy)
Myth: People will think you're weird(06 of10)
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Truth: There may be the occasional person who doesn't react in the way they should - but it's probably down to sheer ignorance. People won't think you're weird, and if they're true friends, they won't treat you any differently either. (credit:Alamy)
Myth: There's no way out(07 of10)
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Truth: Yes, you may have some dark times. But it doesn't mean they won't end. Seeking help is the first step, and sometimes the hardest one, on the road to recovery. (credit:Alamy)
Myth: You're alone(08 of10)
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Truth: No matter how alone you think you are, you're not. There will be someone who wants to help - whether it's family, friends, your doctor, or the mental health worker at the end of the phone. (credit:Alamy)
Myth: Self harm is just ‘attention-seeking’(09 of10)
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Truth: Self-harm is an issue distinct from suicide – the inflicting of pain has its own purpose and is not usually intended as a suicide attempt. However, someone who self-harms may also think about or attempt suicide. It is a myth that people who self-harm are ‘just attention-seekers’ and not at risk of suicide. (credit:Alamy)
Myth: You must take antidepressants to “cure” depression Fact: Antidepressants do not make you “happy” as such – they help to adjust abnormally(10 of10)
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Fact: Antidepressants do not make you “happy” as such – they help to adjust abnormally low levels of brain chemicals to lift mood to more normal levels. NHS guidelines suggest that antidepressants should not be offered in the first instance for mild depression as other strategies may be more effective with fewer side effects. Medication can reverse some of the effects of depression, such as low mood and lack of motivation, and can provide the energy for re-engagement with life, socialising etc which helps combat other depressive effects. Medication is most useful when forming part of a combined strategy to tackle the various effects of the depression habit spiral. (credit:Alamy)
Signs of depression: what to look out for
Feeling very low(01 of06)
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Drastic mood swings, feeling inexplicably down or sad. (credit:Alamy)
Unable to get out of bed(02 of06)
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Not that they don't want to, but that they are unable to (credit:Alamy)
Uninterested(03 of06)
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They don't find any joy in things they used to love. Can't summon up an interest in anything (credit:Alamy)
Restless and agitated(04 of06)
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Changes in normal behaviour, inability to sit still or concentrate (credit:Alamy)
Big change in energy levels(05 of06)
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Suddenly, they don't have any energy and they constantly feel tired and lethargic (credit:Alamy)
Withdrawing(06 of06)
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People who used to socialise a lot becoming silent and uncommunicative (credit:Alamy)