This week, Prison Break star Wentworth Miller wrote an incredibly brave and personal Facebook post about his struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts. He addressed a cruel meme that has been going around the Internet since 2010, showing photos of Miller at a heavier weight and making fun of his body. Miller revealed that during a very low point in his life he turned to food for distraction and relief, and gained some weight as a result—"Big f--king deal."
In the post, Miller shared his pain when he realized that his personal struggles were being made fun of online. "One day, out for a hike in Los Angeles with a friend, we crossed paths with a film crew shooting a reality show," he explained. "Unbeknownst to me, paparazzi were circling. They took my picture, and the photos were published alongside images of me from another time in my career. 'Hunk To Chunk.' 'Fit To Flab.' Etc."
Luckily, Miller has been able to move forward from that difficult time, and the meme no longer causes him the pain it once did. "The first time I saw this meme pop up in my social media feed, I have to admit, it hurt to breathe," he wrote. "But as with everything in life, I get to assign meaning. And the meaning I assign to this/my image is strength. Healing. Forgiveness. Of myself and others. Now, when I see that image of me in my red t-shirt, a rare smile on my face, I am reminded of my struggle. My endurance and my perseverance in the face of all kinds of demons. Some within. Some without."
Miller also provided links to a number of resources for anyone suffering from suicidal thoughts, like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and mental health nonprofit Active Minds.
This is not the first time the actor has spoken out about depression, which affects around 7.6 percent of American teens and adults. According to Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE), suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. Back in 2013, Miller revealed that he had previously attempted suicide before coming out as gay. "Growing up I was a target," he said at the 2013 Human Rights Campaign Seattle Gala. "Speaking the right way, standing the right way, holding your wrist the right way. Every day was a test and there were a thousand ways to fail, a thousand ways to betray yourself, to not live up to someone else’s standards of what was accepted, of what was normal."
In this week's Facebook post, Miller shared that he got through those hard times, and encouraged others in a similar situation to seek help.
"If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available," he wrote. "Reach out. Text. Send an email. Pick up the phone. Someone cares. They're waiting to hear from you."
Need help? If you are in the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. More resources are available from MentalHealth.gov and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
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Photo Credit: Getty Images
