When country music star Naomi Judd died on Saturday at 76, her daughters said in a statement that they had lost their mother to the disease of mental illness.
The family's statement was heavily scrutinized on social media. Many fans felt that the phrase rang true, given Naomi's openness about her struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts. The statement was criticized as vague.
Mental health experts say that the Judd family should not be criticized for how they speak about the death of a loved one.
The American Association of Suicidology said that the family was grieving the loss of their mother and they didn't have to say anything. We can't insist that they carry the banner for all of us. It's up to you to talk about the deaths that impact you. It is up to the Judd family to talk about their mother's death.
At the Country Music Hall of Fame inducting Naomi Judd, Wynonna Judd broke down in tears.
The vice president of the non-profit Education Development Center and director of the Zero Suicide Institute said that Judd's phrase feels accurate in Naomi's case.
This has been a life with significant highs and successes, but also with trauma and mental illness issues that she has been very public about.
Naomi Judd, the matriarch of The Judds, died at the age of 76.
Naomi, an ambassador for the National Alliance on Mental Illness, spoke about her experiences as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, living with severe depression, and struggling with suicidal thoughts.
Most people with a mental illness don't die by suicide, and most people with suicidal thoughts don't attempt to kill themselves. Wynonna andAshley's statement contributes to important dialogues about both.
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Some critics questioned the vagueness of the statement, but it may be serving a more productive purpose.
The family is pulling the dialogue back to her struggles with mental illness. She said that they want people to appreciate that this was a lifelong battle for her, and that they want people to focus on how she managed all these years. That is an important piece of her story. We do not want that to get lost by focusing solely on how her life ended.
Some fans wanted the family's statement to be more explicit about the cause of death, because they felt that losing someone to suicide can still feel stigmatized and shameful.
Naomi Judd's official cause of death has not been made public, but that hasn't stopped fans from speculating.
In the United States, suicide is the leading cause of death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 12 million Americans will seriously think about suicide in 2020.
Thousands of messages show what it means to help someone who is suicidal.
When there is a case of suicide, I think it's a good idea to name it so that we can have a conversation about where people can get help and what help looks like.
Celebrity suicides often receive a lot of attention from media organizations, which can lead to sensationalism and cause more deaths. Mental health experts say exposure to media coverage of a high-profile suicide can lead to more suicides.
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During the Country Music Hall of Fame ceremony on Sunday, Naomi and Wynonna Judd were in attendance, along with actress and friend of Naomi Judd, Ashly Judd.
She said that she was sorry that her mother couldn't hang on.
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Even though someone dies, experts say a grieving family gets to decide how they talk about it.
I hope that no one knocks on your door when your mother dies, asking if you are saying everything right.
The statement probably felt like the best way to honor Naomi.
This is a family who also went through a lifelong journey of ups and downs, and this gives us the opportunity to acknowledge how brave she was for sharing her story for many years, the incredible way that her family did.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Hotline.
The Crisis Text Line provides free, confidential support via text message to people in crisis.
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