In emotional Instagram and Twitter posts, Karamo Brown opened up about his suicide attempt exactly 12 years ago. Brown, known for playing the "Culture Vulture" on Netflix's Queer Eye, constantly has an upbeat and positive attitude on the show, helping the makeover participants with both their mental and physical health.
Posting a video of a gospel singer belting "I made it" Brown wrote on Instagram, "Today in 2006 I was sitting on my couch alone, attempting to commit suicide. In my mind, life was over for me."
The Fab 5 member continued, "But I got mental health support and worked each day to believe again. And here I am happy and healthy. I made it and If you're going through something you can make it too! Like she's singing '...said I made it... anybody been through the storm, anybody been through the rain...'"
Brown ended the post by providing the number to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255).
After the Instagram post, Brown took to Twitter to discuss his suicide attempt in more detail.
He said:
"Hey friends, so I decided to shoot a quick little video about the fact that I shared that today in 2006 I did attempt to commit suicide. You know, I was in a very dark place, I just felt like life could not get any better. Everything that was happening to me was never going to change and I tried to take my own life. And if it wasn't for my best friends Raymond and Tre calling the ambulance, getting me off that couch, I probably would not be here today.
But I want you all to know, that as you see me on Queer Eye helping people with their mental health and you see me on my social media helping people it's because it's important to me -- not just because I'm trained in this field but because I know so many of us suffer from mental health issues, and we just don't know where to turn and every day seems darker and darker.
But I want you to know that things do get better and if you get help and you do the work daily your life can change. I'm living proof of that and if you know someone in your life that's going through it, reach out to them, you could be their support."
It truly is inspiring to see how far Brown has come in the past dozen years. Brown is a reminder that things do get better.
LGB youth are three times more likely to commit suicide than straight youth. They are also five times more likely to have committed suicide than straight individuals. Even as adults, gay and bisexual individuals are significantly more likely to have contemplated or committed suicide than their straight peers.
If you need help, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.