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“Teen Mom 2″ star Kailyn Lowry opened up about her struggles with depression on the Friday, July 15 episode of her podcast “Barely Famous.”
Lowry spoke to guest Dr. Drew Pinsky about how “Teen Mom” affected her mental health journey. She also revealed a particularly traumatic experience that led to her having suicidal thoughts.
Here’s what you need to know.
Kailyn Lowry Opens up About Mental Health
On the June 15 episode, Lowry revealed that one of her high school boyfriends recently committed suicide. She was not referring to ex Jo Rivera with whom she shares her eldest son Issac.
The mother-of-four told Dr. Drew that the experience triggered her and led to her having suicidal thoughts.
“My ex-boyfriend, so someone I dated in high school actually before Jo, he recently committed suicide,” she said. “I was very conflicted about it, and I couldn’t understand my feelings on why I would think – I have thought about suicide more since he committed suicide.”
Lowry said she spoke to her therapist about the situation.
“And I told my therapist that, and she said that it can be not actually contagious, but it almost opens the door for people who are already, you know, suicidal,” she told Dr. Drew.
Kailyn Lowry on Mental Health Awareness
Friday’s episode is not the first time Lowry has opened up about her mental health journey. The “Pride Over Pity” author frequently discusses the importance of mental health awareness on her podcasts.
In May 2022, Lowry and her “Baby Mamas No Drama” co-host, Vee Rivera, took to Instagram to share a post about mental health awareness on their podcast Instagram page.
Lowry and Rivera posted a photo with a black background and green text that read, “it’s okay to not be okay.”
They also included a lengthy caption encouraging fans to seek help if they are struggling with their mental health.
“You know we are all about openly discussing our mental health struggles with you guys,” they wrote. “May is mental health awareness! For the month of May organizations like the ADAA (Anxiety & Depression Association of America) fight to reduce stigma & help people get the proper care & support they need💗.”
“Be the best advocate you can be by vowing to break the stigma, educate yourself on the mental disorders [affecting] yourself or those around you and NEVER be afraid to reach out for help,” they continued. “There will be a link to directly donate to the ADAA in our stories if you feel so inclined 💗 .”
Kailyn Lowry on Why She Left ‘Teen Mom 2’
Lowry shocked fans in April 2022 when she announced her departure from the “Teen Mom” franchise during the season 11 “Teen Mom 2” reunion.
Lowry opened up about her decision to leave the show in a May 2022 interview with E! News.
The MTV star attributed her exit primarily to her shifting priorities.
“I want to focus on my self-growth and my kids and I didn’t feel like the show aligned with the goals that I have anymore,” she told the outlet. “I decided it was time for me to move on.”
While it is unlikely Lowry will return to “Teen Mom,” the 30-year-old revealed to E! News that she would be down to film her own show with MTV.
“I joked to the producers that if you guys want to give me my own show, I would be willing to tell all about my new relationship and what we’re planning and working on together,” she told the publication.
You can catch up on old episodes of “Teen Mom OG” and “Teen Mom 2” on Philo.
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