Robin Williams' Son Has Set Up A Mental Health Charity In His Honor | 22 Words

It has been nearly 6 years since we tragically lost the amazing Robin Williams. It's been hard for those who grew up watching him, but even harder for his family, who are the ones keeping his spirit alive.

His son Zak knows what it's like to struggle with mental health, and has set up the most amazing tribute to his late father.

Keep scrolling for the full story...

On August 11th, 2014, the world suffered a tragic loss.

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 Actor and comedian, Robin Williams, took his own life at the age of sixty-three.

Robin Williams was a household name...

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 The actor, who was best known for his starring roles in movies such as Mrs. Doubtfire and Good Will Hunting, always held his signature comedic act and he was well-known and well-loved for his lovable and funny nature.

But he faced many personal challenges during his life...

He developed an alcohol and drug problem while working on the 1978 sitcom, Mork and Mindy.

Robin was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease shortly before his death...

As well as suffering from Lewy Body Dementia, a type of brain disease that affected his thinking, memory and movement control.

It’s the second-most common type of progressive dementia after Alzheimer’s disease.

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 And it is believed that the actor struggled greatly with coming to terms with his diagnosis.

He struggled with addiction for more than 2 decades...

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 And he married actress, Valerie Velardi, until their divorce in 1988.

Robin went on to re-marry...

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 Marsha Garces was Robin's son's nanny, and it was rumored that she had an affair with the actor while he was still married. But after he divorced, they were to eventually marry and have 2 children together - Zelda and Cody.

Robin would yet again be divorced in 2010...

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 But he always remained close with his children, especially Zelda.

Zelda has gone on to be a success...

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 She is now thirty-years-old and she works as an actress, following in the footsteps of her late father.

She regularly talks about her dad...

And it's clear that the pain of losing him is still very much there.

Zelda's brother, Cody, got married earlier this year...

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 The date was on the 21st of July, which would have been Robin's sixty-eighth birthday.

It was a touching tribute to their late father...

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 "The 21st of July has meant many things to me over the years... it was the day my Dad was born, and the last day I got to see him. That last one had begun to usurp the joy of the first two in recent years... that is, until 2 days ago when it became something new. On the 21st of July, 2019, it became the day I officially gained a new sister!" Zelda wrote in an emotional post on Instagram.

Since Robin's death, Zak has been very open about his mourning process.

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 "I miss him all the time."

As much as the world has missed Robin Williams, the pain of his family is inconceivable.

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 Speaking to People shortly after Robin’s death, Zak said, “Often I see something or if I’m watching a film, I think, ‘Oh, man, he would have appreciated this’ or ‘He would have gotten a laugh out of this.'"

Zak has sworn to keep the spirit of his father alive.

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 The thirty-seven-year-old has opened up about his new involvement with Inseparable, a mental health organization aiming to make sure all Americans are granted access to mental health care amid this pandemic.

Zak, who is the eldest, said he and his siblings are planning to honor their dad next month on Father's Day.

"Time flies," Zak said. "I talked to my siblings to share stories and thoughts and photos that we like and appreciate."

Currently, they're all social distancing in their respective homes.

"It will be nice to be able to speak with my brother and sister around remembering dad. It's certainly an opportunity to be introspective as we'll be together, apart."

They plan on meeting up soon.

"The key thing for us during this upcoming Father's Day is just to take some quiet time to reflect as a family around all the things that we're grateful for around him and who he was," Zak said.

In his own way, Zak has already found a way to reflect on his father's life and legacy.

He is an advocate for mental health with Inseparable, for which Zak is on the Advisory Board.

It's something his dad would be proud of...

"The coronavirus pandemic has brought light to a parallel pandemic that's happening," says Zak. "We are experiencing from it as a direct result of the pandemic... a shared trauma that's becoming quite acute as a result of everything that people have been through both in terms of the devastating economic effects, the isolation and a lot of circumstances from communities."

People need that kind of support right now.

He continues, "Instead of becoming more isolated, finding resentment, getting angry about it, we need to actually find solutions and opportunities to band together to find the resources and apply them to actual meaningful change on a system's level. That's what I think is so important at this time."

Zak has been searching for his own method of finding peace and balance with his mental health.

Which has included "prioritizing self-care before I can show up for others," including his fiancée Olivia June and their 1-year-old son Mickey.

He's been detailing the ways he's dealt with his mental health struggles over the years.

"I stay away from drugs and alcohol, I commit to support groups," he says. "One thing I found very healing for me through my experience has been service and commitment to service work specifically around mental health and mental health support organizations. Eating well, committing to a healthy lifestyle. Things that I need in my weekly and daily regimen to better support my wellbeing."

His family also helps to keep him grounded, and he's looking forward to spending time with Mickey on Father's Day.

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 "[Becoming a dad] completely changes [you], but [gives you] perspective on what it takes to actually show up for another person," he says. "To be a present and engaged parent requires focus and commitment to time and an effort that ... it's a lot. But the rewards are unlike anything I've experienced before." Keep scrolling for the uncovered deleted scenes from Mrs. Doubtfire that show just how special he really was...