'She deserved better': Ashley Judd opens up about mother Naomi's mental health struggles and suicide during White House speech

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

WASHINGTON, DC: Ashley Judd opened out about the unexpected death of her mother Naomi Judd—who committed suicide by a self-inflicted gunshot—during her moving address about suicide prevention.

The 56-year-old made an appearance at the White House complex in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, April 23, alongside other well-known suicide prevention leaders, like artist Aloe Blacc and activist Shelby Rowe, per Daily Mail.

Ashley Judd opens up about mom Naomi Judd's mental health struggles

Ashley came to the stage wearing a flowing summer white dress, but she covered her legs with a hessian blanket before picking up the microphone.

Concerning her mother's mental health issues, Ashley revealed that, on the day Naomi committed suicide, "the disease of mental illness was lying to her and with great terror [had] convinced her that it would never get better."

"I'm here because I am my beloved mother's daughter and on the day she died, which will be the two-year anniversary in one week, the disease of mental illness was lying to her and with great terror convinced her that it would never get better..." Ashley began her speech.

"I have a firm belief that we deserve to be remembered not just for how we died but how we lived."

Ashley continued talking about her mother, revealing that "she also lived most of her life with an untreated and undiagnosed mental illness that lied to her and stole from her. It stole from our family and she deserved better."

Only a week before, Ashley took to share the devastating moment she discovered her mother's death after she committed suicide at the age of 76 on April 30, 2022.

Country star Naomi took her own life from a single gunshot to the head at her home in Leiper's Fork, Tennessee, and she left a suicide note next to her body.

As per the autopsy report, Naomi suffered from 'significant' anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.

Ashley Judd opens up about her depression struggle

The Biden administration engaged actor Ashley Judd and singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc, who both lost loved ones to suicide, to help publicize their new national suicide prevention policy.

Ashley's mother country music icon Naomi Judd passed away over two years ago, while Blacc's longtime collaborator Tim Bergling passed away in 2018.

Both were present as Doug Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris' husband, helped present the Democratic administration's plan to lower the number of suicides in the country. He stated that 132 persons commit suicide every day, per Associated Press.

Ashley talked about her own experience with depression, saying, "I'm also here because I was molested by a man for the first time that I remember when I was seven years old."

"That's when I had onset of childhood depression and I know the feeling of not wanting to be here but I had a different experience because I went to treatment in 2006 for unresolved childhood grief and sexual trauma," she continued.

The actress added: "I've been in good recovery for 18 years and I've had a different outcome than my mother. I carry a message of hope and recovery."

Shelby Rowe, executive director of the Suicide Prevention Research Center, responded about what people can do to support someone in distress by noting that people shouldn't worry about "if you’re saying the right thing. Just say something and show up."

Blacc recommended that when people reach out, they give a "moment of joy"—a song or a memory that makes them giggle. Additionally, he urged everyone never to forget that they are "the light."

"There’s no such thing as too much love. Let’s give as much as we can," Blacc added, before leading the audience in singing the chorus from 'This Little Light of Mine.'