Jason Manford's Robin Williams tribute urges depression sufferers to seek help: 'The world needs you'

The actor, who was found dead in his Californian home, is believed to have taken his own life after a long battle with drink and drugs

Jason Manford’s tribute to Robin Williams wasn’t a reference to Good Will Hunting, nor a quote from his stand-up or a Disney meme.

It was a heart-felt open letter urging those suffering from depression – the mental condition that could likely have been the cause of the comedian’s death – to seek help.

The actor, who was found dead in his Californian home, is believed to have taken his own life after a long battle to overcome an addiction to alcohol and drugs. His publicist confirmed that he had been struggling with "severe depression".

"RIP Robin Williams," Manford wrote initially upon hearing the news. "So unbelievably sad about this news. One of the funniest talented comedians the world has never produced.

"Just because you're struggling, doesn't mean you're falliing [sic]."

He followed up his tweet with a longer post, urging those feeling "anxious and low", that experience a "deep sadness but can't find a root cause", not to assume the reaction of others but to speak out about their problems.

"If depression can (allegedly) kill Robin Williams, one of the world's greatest funny men, well it can get any of us at any time.

"If the Genie from Aladdin can suffer and the DJ in Good Morning Vietnam can be affected by it, then so can you, or your child or friend or work colleague."

"The world needs you even if you don't think it does," he ended his post. "I promise, we need you here, now."

Manford’s post received thousands of tweets, favourites and retweets.

It comes after Williams’ daughter, Zelda Rae, paid loving tribute to her further with a passage from the Little Prince.

"You - you alone will have the stars as no one else has them," the excerpt on Twitter read. "In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing.

"And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night... You - only you - will have stars that can laugh."

This is why it’s probably the most fitting respect to Williams’ life so far.