Why 'Queer Eye's' Karamo Brown Opened Up About His Past Suicide Attempt

As part of the Fab Five in the popular makeover show “Queer Eye,” Karamo Brown helps people embrace who they are and take care of their mental health. In a video posted Thursday, Brown shared a personal reason mental health is so important to him — 12 years ago, he survived a suicide attempt.

“I was in a very dark place. I just felt like life could not get any better,” he said.  “Everything that was happening to me was never going to change and I tried to take my own life.”

Today in 2006 I was sitting on my couch alone & attempted to commit suicide. In my mind life was over for me. But I got mental health support & worked each day to believe again. And here I am happy & healthy. I made it and If you’re going through something you can make it too! pic.twitter.com/dKYj5ZsLAj

— Karamo Brown (@Karamo) August 30, 2018

He said if it weren’t for his two friends who called an ambulance, he might not be here today. Ultimately, he wanted people to know that even when things are dark, they do get better.

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, it’s because it’s important to me. It’s 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 it seems darker and darker, but I want you to know that things do get better. That if you get help and you do the work daily, your life can change. I’m living proof of that.

Some took to Twitter to thank Brown for being so open about his struggles.

Karamo, thank you so much for sharing your story. I work in a suicide-prevention program with at-risk youth, and have had personal experience as well. It’s so empowering to hear others working to reduce the stigma of mental health and seeking services!

— Adrianne (@__adomingo) August 30, 2018

Your openness about this will help so many people. Thank you Karamo!

— Alex Boniello (@AlexBoniello) August 30, 2018

You know, it was around now in 2006 that I placed an emergency call to my counsellor, saying I was scared I would kill myself. Today, I’m a month from my third anniversary of travelling the world. 23 countries I wouldn’t have seen had I not made that call & gotten help. Go, us.

— Steffani Cameron, the Full Nomad (@SnarkySteff) August 30, 2018

You never know what people have been through, and it’s important when people who’ve survived share their stories, letting others know they’re not alone. “And if you know someone in your life who’s going through it, reach out to them,” Brown said. “You could be their support.”