People Are Using Kate Spade's Death To Start A Serious Conversation On Depression

It's easy to take a cynical approach to consumerism. To the world of fashion and frivolous purchases. I do it all the time.

I get angry whenever someone values name brand stuff for the sake of it being name brand, and I also find it pretty disgusting when people seem to care more about appearing successful than actually doing something successful in their lives that's fulfilling and meaningful to them.

The kind of person who, in the seminal Post Malone track off of his masterpiece, Beerbongs and Bentleys, are like this woman: "her bag Chanel/but she drive a durango".

Spending money on Gucci belts when you're borrowing gas money, leasing a new Lexus while you're living with your parents and taking pictures of it on Instagram with "inspirational" comments means your priorities are in the wrong place and you're kinda pathetic. But that doesn't mean liking the finer things in life is wrong, because it's not.

For many people, earning those finer things through hard work, or treating yourself to something to celebrate an honest-to-goodness milestone means the world to you. It's why growing up I valued the videogames I got after busting my butt in school or saving up enough money from shoveling people's driveways way more than the rich kids who just got the game on a Tuesday from their parents for simply existing.

One of the best parts about buying those finer things, is when you gift them to someone else. I love surprising my wife with gifts and seeing her face light up when I show them to her. One of her favorite designers was Kate Spade, who, unfortunately, recently committed suicide.

The news left a lot of people shocked and expressing their condolences to the influential designer's family.

People are now using Spade's suicide to spark a larger conversation about mental health.

Many are doing it by sharing photos and stories about what her designs meant to them.

For some, it was a symbol of success, of attaining personal goals and dreams.

For others, it was all about the gift of giving.

Some people showed off her more unconventional designs and how much it meant to them to buy a new bag.

Others shared some embarrassing stories about having a knock-off, and meeting Kate Spade herself.

For many, Spade's products represented the first "actual" purse they ever purchased, and the great feelings associated with getting something they really, really wanted.

For many people, it helped them cope in difficult environments.

Others testified to the quality of Spade's products. For a bag to last from the '90s, that's pretty darn impressive.

Her suicide is a reminder that depression can affect us all. But you can get help.

My condolences to Kate Spade's family in this trying time.