Ryan Guzman has revealed that he once tried to take his own life after suffering a “mental health crisis”.
In an exclusive PEOPLE clip from the May 21 episode of Tommy DiDario I’ve never said this before podcast, the 9-1-1 the actor admitted that his attempt happened many years ago, but was reluctant to share his story publicly.
“About six and a half, seven years ago… I tried, at one point, to take my own life,” said the 36-year-old. “Fortunately, it didn’t work. Fortunately, I got a second chance, by the grace of God.”
“From that moment on, I saw every step as an opportunity to erase what got me there and build what allowed me to live,” he added.
Guzman said his suicide attempt and the death of his longtime friend Stephen “tWitch” Boss, who died by suicide at the age of 40 in December 2022, changed his life — and ultimately changed his perspective.
“That moment alone, along with what happened to my brother tWitch, are probably two of the biggest seminal moments in my entire life and have allowed me to have a deeper sense of mercy and empathy for each individual,” he explained.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Ryan Guzman. Paul Archuleta/Getty stars who have spoken out about their mental health issues
“That’s why I would ask that all men give up this fact that ‘You are a strong man, you have to hold on to all this’, but to rely on their brother. Really lean on your brother and if your brothers aren’t there the way they need to be, find some new ones,” he continued. “If you don’t have people who are inclined to a healthy lifestyle, you keep them because of loyalty, let them go. There are a lot of other people. There are people who have been through your situation before and are more than willing to help.”
Guzman said on the show that he would like to do more for mental health awareness, especially for men. He said he hopes a “new wave” will take over where people can have “genuine connections” with people.
Although he has kept many of his mental health issues under wraps, Guzman briefly mentioned suffering from depression on social media in May 2020 while responding to a fan who said they were going through a rough patch.
“I’ve been dealing with depression for years,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “I’ve found that the inevitable battles of negativity can only be ‘won’ if you occupy your mind with tasks that allow the negativity to flow through you, rather than sitting in it. Battles can be won, but war is endless.”
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Line by dialing 988, texting “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Line at 741741 or going to 988lifeline.org.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education