Chris Appleton Details Past Experience With Suicidal Ideation

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Content warning: This story discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. 

Chris Appleton is reflecting on a dark period in his life. 

As a stylist to the stars – I’ve been lucky enough to work with people like Kim Kardashian and Ariana Grande – I’ve learned a lot about life, and sharing my truth was a huge part of that. Coming out as gay really shifted things, especially when it came to my relationship with my kids, Billy, who’s 23, and Kitty-Blu, 21, who I share with my ex, Katie Katon. It was a journey, but ultimately brought us closer.

Chris shared on the January 14th episode of The Viall Files that telling his children was the most difficult thing he’s ever done. He explained that as a parent, his biggest desire is to protect his kids, and causing them pain felt like a personal failure and brought him a lot of shame.

After Chris came out, rumors spread in his hometown of Leicester, UK, leading him to think it would be better for his children if he wasn’t around at all – he even considered that they’d be better off if he had passed away than having a gay father.

Things got so difficult for him that, at age 42, he tried to end his life, but his former partner intervened and saved him.

He remembered that Kate was the one who had called the ambulance, explaining she’d tracked his location. He admitted he didn’t remember much of what happened, just being in the hospital and hearing voices. He recalled lying there and feeling relieved to be alive, and realizing he’d finally reached a point where he couldn’t be any harder on himself.

For Chris, his stint in the hospital after his overdose was a true wake up call. 

Honestly, hearing him talk about it… it just got me. He said he was so tired of fighting himself, of pretending to be someone he wasn’t. It was like he finally thought, ‘What if I just… stopped?’ What if he just accepted everything? He described it as this really peaceful feeling, not some huge dramatic thing, just… letting go. It was beautiful, truly. It felt like he finally found freedom.

At that point, Chris—who was briefly married to Lukas Gage—saw a future for himself as a gay man. 

He confessed he had no idea what would happen next, or what he should do. But that uncertainty marked the start of something new.

Although it was just the first step, Chris said he immediately felt a huge relief. He described leaving the hospital feeling much lighter and freer.

For more stars who have opened up on their mental health struggles, keep reading…

Rapper Radric Davis, known professionally as Gucci Mane, shared in his 2025 book, Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man, that he was diagnosed with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This diagnosis followed a mental health crisis he experienced in 2020.

He explained on The Breakfast Club that the experience made him realize he needed to prioritize his health and take responsibility for his well-being. He stated he never wants to go through something similar again and is committed to seeking therapy, even if that means taking medication.

Gucci Mane shared that, beyond wanting to help others, his children – Ice Davis and Iceland Davis, whom he shares with his wife Keyshia Ka’Oir – were a major reason he decided to get help when he was struggling.

He explained that his wife was expecting their son, and he worried about the impact of parenthood on his mental health. He feared a potential mental health crisis and whether he’d be able to recover, so he proactively began therapy and sought support.

The former star of Gossip Girl spoke about his struggles with body image as a young actor, describing it as a form of body dysmorphia.

In an April 2025 interview with The Guardian, Penn revealed they used to strongly dislike their body and wished they had a different one.

He explained that after his parents’ divorce, and struggling with depression and isolation, he began to focus on his appearance. He felt that being seen as more attractive could lead to greater success and make him feel more valued.

Despite the mental struggles, though, Penn credited his ability to persist to his spirituality.

He said that facing those disappointments and personal struggles ultimately helped him overcome them and return to his work with a renewed sense of self.

The Scrubs alum has been vocal about her past difficult relationship with food.

Honestly, she gets me. She said it herself – people want to label it an eating disorder, but for her, it’s just…everything. It’s her life. And she admitted it – food was always her thing, her escape. She even said she did some seriously wild stuff with it, and I just…I understand that on a level no one else could. It’s like she’s reading my mind!

She added, “I would over-exercise, and there was a sprinkle of bulimia in there.”

Despite admitting she finds it hard to stick to a diet, she’s also been open about the positive steps she’s making towards a healthier lifestyle.

In 2017, she told Bon Appétit that at age 23, she completely changed her lifestyle by eliminating sugar and alcohol and taking up yoga, breathing exercises, and stretching. She described these changes as being more effective than the medication Ritalin.

I’m an actress who struggles with eating and how I see my body, and that’s something I’m actively working on. I’m also focusing on my overall health by prioritizing healthy foods and natural remedies.

The Full House alum reflected on her mental health journey and navigating her battle with depression.

She admitted on her podcast, Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, that it’s really hard to talk about, even with those closest to you. She explained that she personally feels she should be able to handle it, and admitting she struggles feels like a weakness.

The Grammy-winning artist often talks about safeguarding her well-being, like blocking out negativity online, and offers guidance to others who are struggling.

When asked for mental health advice, she told Vogue that the most important thing is patience. She explained that she was patient with her own journey, didn’t rush things, and allowed time to heal. She believes that difficult feelings will eventually lessen with time.

As people adjusted to social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, the singer of “Firework” opened up about the significant stress these kinds of situations can cause.

She tweeted about struggling with the challenges of the pandemic, saying it’s hard to know whether the virus itself or the resulting depression is more difficult. Katy explained that she often finds peace in her car, which has become her refuge since there aren’t many other places to go.

The model partnered with designer Kenneth Cole to support The Mental Health Coalition and discussed her personal struggles with anxiety on Good Morning America.

She remembered that after her panic attacks began happening again, she was finally able to find the information she needed to understand them.

Kendall shared that she experiences a mix of good and anxious days, which is why she was drawn to this cause. Her goal is to help people feel less isolated and understood.

The actor known for playing Black Adam has publicly discussed his struggles with depression and the challenges men often face when trying to talk about their mental wellbeing.

Everyone experiences difficult times and struggles with depression – it doesn’t care who you are. It took me a while to learn this, but the most important thing is to talk about what you’re going through. Men, especially, often keep their feelings bottled up, but remember, you’re not alone.

Prince Harry helped reduce the shame around getting mental health support when he discussed his own experiences with therapy in an interview with the Telegraph. He explained that talking about his struggles made him realize many other people go through similar things, saying, “Once you start talking about it, you realize you’re part of a big community.”

The actress from Empire has publicly discussed her experiences with depression and emphasizes the importance of seeking professional help. She shared with Variety that talking to a therapist is essential for managing her mental health.

Taraji P. Henson founded The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to fight the stigma surrounding mental health within the Black community and to expand access to Black mental health professionals.

As someone who’s always been interested in holistic wellness, I’ve been following a fascinating conversation around mental health. A Grammy-winning artist recently shared that she’s been using MDMA and psilocybin therapy – a type of PTSD treatment – to work through challenges stemming from past experiences with both an eating disorder and performance anxiety. It’s incredibly brave of her to open up about this, and it really highlights how innovative approaches are being explored to address deeply rooted trauma.

She told Rolling Stone in May 2025 that she experienced touring without any nervousness for the first time. She described a strange, shared physical sensation with the audience—almost like a change in air pressure—that tightened her stomach. This experience helped her understand how much she thrives on, and even needs, that powerful, emotional connection with people to truly feel her music come alive.

She explained that prioritizing her mental health and stopping birth control helped her develop a broader understanding of her gender identity.

She explained she decided to stop taking birth control, feeling it had disconnected her from traditional expectations of womanhood. It might sound unusual, but she felt liberated, as if she was no longer bound by those expectations, and that freedom allowed her to explore new possibilities.

In 2017, the actress from Riverdale shared on Instagram that she battled with serious anxiety and depression in middle school, and that support from her family and a therapist was life-saving. She emphasized the importance of reaching out for help, saying it’s the first step, and that everyone has immense value.

The singer behind the hit “What He Didn’t Do” has been opening up about her experiences living with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) over the past several years.

Carly shared on the August 2025 episode of Bunnie Xo’s Dumb Blonde podcast that her anxiety began around the time of her divorce during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, she also revealed she’s struggled with severe OCD since childhood.

Over the past decade, I got used to keeping things to myself and handling problems on my own. Eventually, a couple of years ago, I realized I needed to go back to therapy and start understanding what was going on. It wasn’t something that started recently – I’ve actually been dealing with obsessive-compulsive disorder since I was a child, around six or seven years old.

The actress known for Frozen has openly shared her mental health coping strategies for years, both in public speaking engagements and on social media like Instagram.

She encourages people to discover what works best for them, and, as she shared with Health magazine, this might involve things like medication, actively focusing on the positive by listing ten good things for every negative thought, and regular exercise.

The cookbook author is a mother of four and has openly discussed her experience with postpartum depression, a common but often unspoken challenge for new mothers.

She explained in a 2017 letter to Glamour that it became increasingly comfortable for her to talk about it. Her hope was to let others know that anyone can experience this, and to assure those who are going through it that they aren’t alone and shouldn’t feel ashamed.

I was really touched by what Cara Delevingne shared in The Edit while promoting her book, Mirror, Mirror. She talked about a really difficult time as a teenager, battling depression and even suicidal thoughts. She described it as feeling like there was ‘something dark’ inside her, and it was so brave of her to open up about such a personal struggle.

Cara shared with the publication, as reported by W magazine, that she used to depend on love and other people for her happiness. She realized she needed to learn to find joy within herself, and after a long journey, she’s finally able to be happy on her own.

Ariana Grande encouraged fans to prioritize their mental health after responding to a joke on Twitter. She shared that therapy has been life-saving for her on multiple occasions, emphasizing its importance.

She encouraged me not to be afraid to ask for help. She explained that I don’t have to live with constant pain and that healing from trauma is possible. While she acknowledged she had a long journey ahead, she felt that simply recognizing this possibility was a good first step.

The singer has publicly shared her experiences with addiction, recovery, and mental health, and often incorporates these personal struggles into her songs.

She consistently encourages her followers to prioritize their mental well-being, emphasizing that it’s a continuous effort with inevitable setbacks. She once shared on Instagram, “Just a reminder to anyone who’s struggling: life has its highs and lows, but it’s important to keep going.”

The actress has openly discussed mental health, both through her acting – like her portrayal of Rue in the show Euphoria – and in her personal life.

Zendaya has spoken about experiencing anxiety after a 2013 appearance on Ellen, when her microphone malfunctioned. She shared this on an app she used to have. Since then, she’s found healthy ways to cope with those feelings, explaining that it’s sometimes necessary to take a break to reduce stress.

In a recent interview with WSJ. Magazine, the singer openly shared her experiences with mental health, explaining that she experienced extreme emotional swings – periods of great energy followed by weeks of debilitating lows.

She revealed she’s been dealing with mental health challenges, but finding the right medication has made a huge difference in her life.

The Grammy-winning artist dedicated herself to promoting kindness and openly discussing mental health, sharing her own experiences as well.

In 2018, while accepting the Global Changemakers Award at a fundraiser, she shared that she’d dealt with mental health challenges privately and publicly for a long time. She explained that she believes keeping those struggles hidden actually makes things worse.

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2026-01-14 20:49