Jared Padalecki Shares How He Overcame Struggle With Suicidal Ideation

Content warning: This story discusses suicide.

Jared Padalecki is opening up about his personal mental health journey. 

The Gilmore Girls alum shared that he checked into a clinic in 2015 after struggling with suicidal ideation. 

"I had a really low moment," Jared recalled during the June 25 episode of Tommy DiDario's I've Never Said This Before podcast, per People. "I was letting my thoughts take over and going to places of dramatic suicidal ideation."

After opening up to wife Genevieve Padelecki—whom he married in 2010—about how he was feeling, the 41-year-old said she instructed him to "get home" so he could receive the professional help he needed.  

"I got home, went to a clinic for a couple weeks and looked into it and haven't been suicidal since," Jared continued, "not for a moment." 

As for what contributed to his mental state? Jared shared that he partly "needed a reset" after dealing with the downsides of Hollywood for over a decade. 

"I had spent 15 years in this industry," the Supernatural alum explained. "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." 

Now that he's in a much better place, Jared—who shares kids Thomas Colton, 12, Austin Shepherd, 10 and Odette Elliott, 7, with Genevieve—is "proudly open" about his experience. As he put it, "I don't wear it as a scarlet letter."

Noting that there's nothing "shameful" about going through a difficult time, Jared also advised that anyone who finds themself in a similar situation seek help.

"Please be open, please share, please find somebody whether it's a friend or professional," he said. "Speak the truth." 

If you or someone you know needs help, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.

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