Jared Padalecki is shedding light on his past mental health struggles nearly a decade after checking himself into a clinic.
The “Supernatural” star, who has been “proudly open” about his battle with depression over the years, revealed on an upcoming episode of the “I’ve Never Said This Before” podcast that he once suffered from “dramatic suicidal ideation.”
“It was 2015, I had a really low moment,” he said, according to People’s exclusive look at the June 25 episode.
“I was letting my thoughts take over and going to places of dramatic suicidal ideation,” he continued. “I called my wife and she said, ‘Get home.’”
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The 41-year-old actor, who was joined by his wife, Genevieve Padalecki, took her advice.
“And so, I got home, went to a clinic for a couple weeks and looked into it and haven’t been suicidal since — not for a moment,” he explained.
Padalecki added that he “needed a full reset” after putting on a facade for so many years in the spotlight.
“I had spent 15 years in this industry,” he said. “You go to an audition or on a red carpet and they don’t want, ‘Jared, how are you doing today?’ ‘Oh today was rough, I didn’t sleep.’ They want, ‘Oh it’s great! Excited to be here!'”
“So I had done that for so long, trying to focus on what’s best for the person who’s talking to me as opposed to just being honest,” he added.
However, the father of three is not ashamed of his mental health struggles and doesn’t “wear it as a scarlet letter.”
“It’s not like I’m shameful like, ‘Hey, I see a therapist, I’ve been to a clinic.’ I wear it proudly. I put it on my face and tell everybody,” he said. “If you’re not in a situation where you need that degree of help then don’t seek it. I needed a surgeon — not literally — but I needed it and here I am.”
While the “Gilmore Girls” star is “human” and still deals with “highs and lows,” he encouraged those dealing with similar demons to “seek help” and “open up.”
Padalecki first opened up about his issues in March 2015, telling PvNew that he suffered a mental health crisis while shooting the third season of his hit CW series around 2008.
The “Walker” star “broke down” in his trailer and a doctor was called to check on him and subsequently diagnosed him with clinical depression.
“And it kind of hit me like a sack of bricks. I mean, I was 25 years old. I had my own TV show. I had dogs that I loved and tons of friends and I was getting adoration from fans and I was happy with my work, but I couldn’t figure out what it was; it doesn’t always make sense is my point,” he shared.
“It’s not just people who can’t find a job, or can’t fit in in society that struggle with depression sometimes,” he added.
Although Paladecki says he ”gradually got better,” he suffered a setback in May 2015 after canceling several appearances due to exhaustion.
At the time, he told fans he was “in desperate and urgent need of [his] family” and needed time out of Hollywood.
A few months later, fans showed their support to Padalecki by showing up to the San Diego Comic-Con “Supernatural” panel with thousands of lit candles to honor Padalecki’s Always Keep Fighting campaign, which donates to individuals struggling with depression, addiction and suicidal thoughts.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
