A young luthier dies after long depression

A young luthier dies after long depression

RIP

norman lebrecht

November 07, 2021

News has been shared of the death earlier this year, after a long depression, of the Swiss violin maker Hans Luthi, who worked at Florian Leonhard Fine Violins in Hampstead.

Hans was 41.

Friends paid this tribute:

‘In April 2021 we received the devastating news of the loss of our friend Hans Luthi. A violin restorer of the very highest order and beloved friend and colleague, Hans was a wonderful husband to Remi and adored father to his dear son Tobi and stepdaughters Venus and Ella. His work was simply superb, of a world-leading level.

‘Depression thrives in isolation, and distressingly that side of Hans’s life was kept firmly separate from his work and friendships. In the workshop Hans prioritised helping colleagues and he was always patient and kind.’

 

Comments

  • msc says:

    This is so very sad. I wish his family and friends strength, understanding, and love.
    Modern medicine and society has the ability (through proper treatments and supports) to prevent most suicides, but the will is lacking. Suicidal depression and despair is still widely viewed as something within the sufferer’s control or even self-inflicted in a way that many lifestyle illnesses (obesity, some cancers, some diabetes, etc.) are not. I speak as someone whose wife has lost a sibling to suicide, who has lost a friend, and who battles with depression and suicidal ideation himself.

    • Nijinsky says:

      I’ve lost at least two friends, to suicide, and have heard multiple other stories, all from 1) “Modern Medicine,” and 2) “Society.”

      The very fact that the thoughts someone might have are seen as a disease, rather than a normal response to situations that not only aren’t often questioned, but aren’t allowed to be even acknowledged for what they are, given “society.”

      It really becomes something when the very pills used to “treat” suicidal ideation say that they can cause it. They also are the cause of most veterans in the US committing suicide (more than are killed in combat recently) because all modern “society” and “medicine” give them is such pills.

      If they work for anyone, that’s great, but this doesn’t excuse that STATISTICALLY they have caused more of the problem, and such side effects, disabling tendencies and withdrawal symptoms are WIDELY not given proper attention when they occur with epidemic proportions, if acknowledged at all.

      To say that the “will” is lacking for someone to take part in that, when in many ways the present epidemic of all such “illnesses” correlate with the introduction of such pills, and such treatment, this is sorely lacking in perspective.

      This may look harsh, but it must be said. To equate empathy for feelings that require attention and lack understanding to such a degree that they remain beyond a person’s control to understand, with bringing forth “medical” treatments that disable the mind from even being able to express what NEEDS further attention, as if the problem then is gone. This is more like cutting the wires to a warning signal, which doesn’t mean the danger is gone, and thus with “antidepressants” you HAVE after three or so years more relapsing, more addiction to the medications, and……

      YES, there are ways to help people, but whether they are “medical” NEEDS to be highly questioned. Art, for example has been there for years, and years, and has always helped people; yet how many of the great artists whose works we still have given to us, and still strive to understand: how many of them has this current “medical” hegemony instead of expressing understanding made up instead the premise that they could have “fixed” them with psychiatric treatment!?

      • Lausitzer says:

        Sometimes the downvoting on this site is really irritating and reinforces the impression that a certain kind and amount of withdrawal is not such a bad idea at all. If that is the point: The described problem with antidepressants is well known and one would expect healthcare professionals to consider it.

        And don’t underestimate what the arts can do here. Certainly enough to make another strong point when it comes to justifying their existance.

  • Nijinsky says:

    To share something positive, which I think helps, and has helped many people.

    There’s a very good website here: https://www.mygoodhabits.com/ it has very good emotional healing techniques shared. It explains that often the discomfort is from trying to push a feeling away, from not wanting to feel a feeling, and that when you just allow that is when it goes away, because it’s natural process. If you can’t afford the 29 dollars every three months they just about let alone who who hasn’t the money.

    It also has good information regarding eating habit. The man that set it up found that his symptoms of depression went away when he went off of gluten.

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