Jared Padalecki candidly spoke about his mental health and how he experienced “dramatic suicidal ideation” at one point.
The “Supernatural” star, who appeared on Tuesday’s episode of the “I’ve Never Said This Before” podcast alongside wife Genevieve, said that he checked himself into a clinic at the time and still experiences some depression “lows” to this day.
“It was 2015,” Padalecki said. “I had a really low moment.”
“I was letting my thoughts take over and going to a place of dramatic suicidal ideation,” he added. “And I called my wife and she said, ‘Get home.’ So I got home, went to a clinic for a couple of weeks and looked into it and haven’t been suicidal since. Not for a moment.”
The actor previously told Variety he was filming Season 3 of “Supernatural” when he “broke down” on set and a doctor urged him to seek treatment for depression. Padalecki, who had launched a mental health campaign mere days earlier, canceled all of his upcoming events.
While he attended Comic-Con to heartwarming fan support later that year, Padalecki said Tuesday that “there’s still highs and lows” with his depression. He was “gutted” in 2021 when “Supernatural” excluded him from a spinoff after 15 years on the CW show.
The channel also recently canceled the Padalecki-led “Walker” after four seasons.
“Today is a low,” he said. “I’m fine — nothing to worry about. But I have a lot of sadness about it. I know I’ll be fine because I’m talking to you about it, I talk to Gen about it, I talk to my friends about it.”
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Padalecki also noted that he’d spent more than a decade in Hollywood before his mental health struggle revealed itself, and said that people at “an audition or a red carpet” expect a certain energy from him — rather than honesty about being tired or feeling “rough.”
“I had done that for so long, trying to focus on what’s best for the person who’s talking to me as opposed to just being honest,” he said Tuesday, adding: “Please be open, please share, please find somebody whether it’s a friend or professional and speak your truth.”
If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention.