‘Bachelorette’ contestant opens up about past suicide attempts (CW: Suicide)

‘Bachelorette’ contestant opens up about past suicide attempts (CW: Suicide)

Posted on December 9, 2020

Ben Smith admitted that being "intentional and aggressive" with therapy has helped him recover after his attempts in 2018 and 2019. When Ben Smith went on his first one-on-one date with "Bachelorette" Tayshia Adams, he revealed that he attempted suicide. While he admitted he shared a lot on the date, mental health experts applaud his willingness to talk about his experience with suicide. That’s why talking about suicidal thoughts and normalizing them can be so powerful. Dr. Ken Duckworth, CMO of NAMI, believes that Smith’s candor will empower many viewers who have had suicidal thoughts or made attempts, have eating disorders or feel overwhelmed. “The more you can normalize these common human problems, the better it is for people to feel less ashamed and more likely to reach out, to get help, to get connected and participate in a coping program to deal with this as opposed to hiding and silence and shame,” Duckworth told TODAY. “Many of the viewers watching will identify.” Duckworth said Smith sets a powerful example for others. “It’s inspiring for people to see someone actively owning their vulnerability and working to improve their coping,” he said. And, Smith’s experience shows people who attempted suicide recover and live full, happy lives. “Mental health treatment is often effective,” Duckworth said. “It's important to recognize that this is a moment of tremendous pain when people make this decision and this does not have to be the entire future of your life. This is a good example of that. So, this is a person who is on national TV, enjoying his dating life, owning his vulnerability.”