Ashley Judd Delivers Emotional White House Speech on Mother Naomi Judd's Suicide and Mental Illness

Ashley Judd, the daughter of the late country music star Naomi Judd, delivered a heartfelt speech at the White House on Tuesday about her mother's suicide and battle with depression. Naomi Judd died by suicide on April 30, 2022, at the age of 76. Ashley opened up about her mother's struggles with untreated and undiagnosed mental illness, which she said "lied to her and stole from her."

During the emotional address, Ashley revealed that on the day Naomi died, "the disease of mental illness was lying to her and, with great terror, convinced her that it would never get better." She emphasized that her mother "deserved better" and shared her own experience with depression and seeking treatment in 2006. Ashley has been in recovery for 18 years.

The event, which also featured singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc who lost a loved one to suicide, was part of the Biden administration's promotion of its new National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. The administration released the first update to the strategy in over a decade, accompanied by a federal action plan with over 200 actions to be taken in the next three years.

Why this matters: Suicide rates have been rising in the United States, claiming over 49,000 lives in 2022. The Biden administration's updated strategy prioritizes equity, as suicide levels were disproportionately higher in historically underserved communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy moderated a discussion with Ashley Judd, Aloe Blacc, and Shelby Rowe, the executive director of the Suicide Prevention Research Center, on what people can do to help someone in crisis. They emphasized the importance of simply showing up, offering support, and providing moments of joy and hope. Ashley carried a message of hope, stating that she has had a different outcome than her mother due to receiving treatment for her own depression.

Key Takeaways

• Ashley Judd spoke at the White House about her mother Naomi's suicide and mental illness.
• Naomi Judd died by suicide on April 30, 2022, at age 76 due to untreated depression.
• The Biden admin. released an updated National Strategy for Suicide Prevention with 200+ actions.
• Suicide rates have been rising in the U.S., disproportionately impacting underserved communities.
• Experts emphasized showing support and providing hope for those in crisis.