Two days after comedian Robin Williams’ death, his wife, Susan Schneider said in a statement that the great star had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.  He was still in the early stages of the disease when he took his own life. She explained that “Robin’s sobriety was intact and he was brave as he struggled with his own battles of depression, anxiety as well as the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, which he was not yet ready to share publicly.”

The full statement reads as follows:

Robin spent so much of his life helping others. Whether he was entertaining millions on stage, film or television, our troops on the frontlines, or comforting a sick child – Robin wanted us to laugh and feel less afraid.

Since his passing, all of us who loved Robin have found some solace in the tremendous outpouring of affection and admiration for him from the millions of people whose lives he touched. His greatest legacy, besides his three children, is the joy and happiness he offered to others, particularly to those fighting personal battles.

Robin’s sobriety was intact and he was brave as he struggled with his own battles of depression, anxiety as well as early stages of Parkinson’s Disease, which he was not yet ready to share publicly.

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It is our hope in the wake of Robin’s tragic passing, that others will find the strength to seek the care and support they need to treat whatever battles they are facing so they may feel less afraid.”

Parkinson’s is a disorder with a huge range of physical and mental symptoms. The disorder can cause tremors, impaired posture and balance, muscle stiffness, slurred speech and cognitive impairment. On it’s website, the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation notes that depression is common as part of the disease and is “the symptom most often overlooked.” The site says: “Researchers have found that people with Parkinson’s who were depressed had more trouble with daily activities, and were more likely to begin medication for motor symptoms sooner than those without depressive symptoms.

The family hopes that his death could be a lesson for those suffering from a similar plight, however professionals are worried that celebrity suicides can spark copycat deaths going at least back to the death of Marilyn Monroe in 1962 that led to a 12%-increase to the suicide rate.