She was only 55 years old. Death was an apparent suicide according to law officials.

She sold her fashion empire in 2006 for 125 million, and had recently started a new line called Frances Valentine. Her Kate Spade brand was resold in 2017 for 2.4 billion.

You just never know when someone is suffering that much to take their life, looking from the outside. May she R.I.P.

I feel so sad for her daughter. Kate Spade was extremely wealthy and had access to the best medical care. It’s too bad she didn’t get the help she needed so her family would be spared from the consequences of her decision.

There are many people who are suffering mentally and simply can’t afford to see a psychiatrist or get prescription medication. It’s easier for me to understand suicide in those cases.

I agree. It's a tragedy.

Mick Jagger's girlfriend, L'Wren Scott, a former LDS woman, killed herself in the same way as Kate did. Both successful fashion designers. His girlfriend was having serious financial problems she was overwhelmed by. It's hard to know in the high society circles these women inhabited, the pressures of the NYC high fashion and society world, and the pressures of success from living up to that lifestyle.

To be on top of the world, and feel so destitute that there is nothing worth living for, is mind boggling. Depression is no respecter of socio-economic status. Like you say though, it would seem more logical they had resources most folks don't to have been able to seek intervention.

We don't know that she didn't seek and receive professional help.
Unlike other most fatal conditions, there is no way to test for or quantify suicidal intent. If the patient says they are not suicidal, there is no test to determine if they are telling the truth or lying. In addition, suicidal intent can come and go. The patient may say they are fine when they are in the hospital or clinic, and a few hours later at home the suicidal feelings and urges return.
This weekend I had a patient who consistently denied she had any intention or desire to kill herself, from the minute she was admitted to the minute she was discharged three days later.
After she was discharged she overdosed on pills (which we did not supply) and last we heard was unresponsive in an ICU.
Prayers requested for this patient, her family and friends, and the professionals who did everything medically possible for her.
Don't judge if you don't know the details.

her poor baby girl. at least she could of done it instead of the home.

Was she an exmo?

Mick's girlfriend was ex LDS,not Spade

Wild, wild horses, we’ll ride them someday.

That was written by Mick and Marianne Faithfull after she tried to kill herself following the death of Brian Jones. Great song.

It's really really awful for her young daughter. All the money in the world nor time will erase the pain she'll endure.

Heartbreaking.

Wonder if the message in the suicide note will be released?

Andrew Soloman has a chapter on suicide in his book, "Far From the Tree".

He says that the common factor among those who take their own lives is impulsivity.

Spade was known for being impulsive.

Lots of suicides are impulsive. My daughter's was not. Suicide is difficult to study. One researcher was able to interview some people who lived through their attempt. They were surprised at how impulsive the decision was for many of the people.

From the above article:

"Increasingly concerned about her mental state, Saffo says that she and Kate's husband Andy Spade repeatedly urged her to go for treatment, including to the same treatment program where Catherine Zeta-Jones went for her successful bipolar treatment.

But she'd always 'chickened out' at the last moment.

'We'd get sooo close to packing her bags, but — in the end, the 'image' of her brand (happy-go-lucky Kate Spade) was more important for her to keep up. She was definitely worried about what people would say if they found out.'"


Kate could presumably have afforded the best medical treatment on the planet - but she couldn't make the leap to seeking help.

As imperfect as the disciplines of psychology and psychiatry are, they can and do help people - and they might have helped Kate.

Most definitely it would have helped had she sought treatment for depression.

Children and loved ones of suicides are at higher risk for having loved someone who committed suicide.

Kate's daughter will no doubt be needing therapy for years to come to help her come to terms with her mother's death.