While "The Jeffersons" was first and foremost a sitcom, it dealt with a number of subjects that were not regularly tackled by the genre. In Season 2, Episode 18, George and Louise suspect something's wrong with Florence after she cleans their apartment without griping, takes a taxi to work, kisses Bentley, hands Louise one of her prized possessions, randomly attempts to call an uncle she hasn't spoken to in 20 years, and tells them she's heading to the top of the Empire State Building. Louise discovers a strange letter ("Dear Mrs. Jefferson, Thank you for everything. Goodbye. Love, Florence") that compounds their concern. George, Lionel, and Louise confront Florence, and remind her how much she's loved. ("You're not just a maid," Lionel tells her. "You're one of the family," to which Florence replies, "Lord, I thought Black folks only heard that one in white homes.") According to BET, it was one of the first TV episodes to address suicide.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
