ashley judd She appeared at the White House on Tuesday, where she presented her platform and her story to promote the Biden administration’s newly formed National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.
Ashley’s mother, singer naomi judd, died by suicide On April 30, 2022, at the age of 76. In remembrance of the upcoming second anniversary of that tragic day, he addressed attendees of Tuesday’s events, and recalled his mother’s struggle with mental health and depression.
“I am here because I am the daughter of my beloved mother and on the day she died, which will be the two-year anniversary in a week, the disease of mental illness lied to her, and with great fear reassured her that it would “Never get better,” Ashley said in her emotional address.
The actress explained that her mother “lived most of her life with an untreated and undiagnosed mental illness, who lied to her and stole something from her… It stole something from our family, and she deserved better.”
Ashley, 56, also revealed her experiences of childhood trauma and resulting depression – for which she sought treatment, and managed to cope with help and professional care.
“I have been in good health for 18 years and have had a different outcome than my mother,” Ashley said. “I bring a message of hope and recovery.”
Ashley also shared some photos from Tuesday’s event at the White House, as she promoted the Biden administration’s new efforts to address the mental health crisis.
Shortly after Naomi’s death, Ashley talks to Diane SawyerAnd revealed that she was the one who found Her mother, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, later became the person who broke the news to Naomi’s husband, Larry Strickland.
Recalling her mother’s last day, Ashley explained, “It was a mixed day. When I’m home in Tennessee I go with my mom and pops every day, so I’m at home like every day. Mother asked me, ‘Will you stay with me?’ And I said, ‘Of course I will.’…I went up to tell her that her good friend was there and I looked for her and I was both sad and shocked when I found out about her.”
While Ashley said at the time that it was hard for her to discuss her mother’s death, she wanted to help raise awareness about the reality of mental illness.
“When we’re talking about mental illness, it’s very important to be clear and differentiate between your loved one and the illness,” he said. “It’s very real, and it’s a lie, it’s barbaric.”
Ashley’s sister, winona judd59, Spoke to ET at the CMT Music Awards in April 2023A few weeks before the first anniversary of Naomi’s death, where she took to the stage to perform “I Want to Know What Love Is” with Ashley McBride.
“I will use my time to talk to anyone out there who is struggling,” Wynonna told ET on the carpet before her performance. “This is an opportunity to help someone.”
“It’s a bittersweet time,” added Winona, who at the time, was also looking forward to her granddaughter’s first birthday in a few weeks. “Both pain and ecstasy are occurring to me.”
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “STRENGTH” to 741-741 on the Crisis Text Line, or go to suicide preventionlifeline.org,
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