Michelle Young urged those battling suicidal thoughts to seek help shortly before she took her own life
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
PHEONIX, ARIZONA: Months before taking her own life, Michelle Young, a 34-year-old Afghanistan war veteran, fitness influencer, and single mother, urged others struggling with suicidal thoughts to seek help, as reported by Daily Mail.
Her tragic death has left her family, friends, and thousands of social media followers mourning the loss of a person who was passionate about supporting those battling mental health issues.
Michelle Young talked about losing her brother to suicide in an Instagram video post
In September 2023, honoring Suicide Prevention Month, Young opened up on Instagram in a video post about her struggles with mental health, recalling the traumatic loss of her brother to suicide at age 14.
She recalled, "I have been in the army for 16 years. Aside from the army, I am a crisis trauma response volunteer and a weekly volunteer at the local homeless shelter. I lost my brother to suicide when I was 14 years old."
"The day that happened, there was a hole in my heart that no matter how much time has gone by, how much healing and therapy I have done, that hole stays. But the day that happened, I also realized community is critical and important and that there is not a single one of us that was meant to go through this life alone," added the US Army soldier.
She asserted, "Asking for help and being able to reach out when you need it is the strongest and bravest thing that anyone can do."
Young concluded the brief video message by urging others battling dark thoughts to reach out for support.
In the caption, she noted, "I lost my brother, protector, first best friend, one of the greatest men I’ve ever known to suicide. That day forever changed my life, but it also created a passion for helping others that I don’t think I would have had if I didn’t experience the pain of losing him."
Having enlisted in the US Army at 18, Young was a dedicated servicewoman, being deployed to Afghanistan twice, most recently in 2023. She had recently extended her contract to serve 20 years and had been promoted to Staff Sergeant in 2019.
While her impressive fitness modeling career and military achievements painted a picture of success, Young was open on social media about her mental health struggles.
In a post dating back to 2018, she wrote, "I feel like we live in a world where everything is a superficial façade and everyone pretends that they don’t feel emotion, and that just isn’t me."
Michelle Young died just days after celebrating daughter Gracie's 12th birthday
Young’s death came just days after a celebratory Instagram post honoring her daughter Gracie’s 12th birthday.
"Happy birthday to the sweetest girl I’ve ever known," wrote the servicewoman, adding, "I cried the entire time I made this. I love you forever, kiddo. The best part about my life is being your momma."
A GoFundMe organized by Young’s friend Sarah Maine has already raised over $45,700 to support Gracie as she copes with the devastating loss of her mother.
Maine, COO of the athleisure brand Curves N Combat Boots that Young often modeled for, noted, "Mental illness is so prevalent especially in the military. We need to find a way to do better."
Young's family now hopes her death serves as a catalyst for change.
"Check on your family members... some of them might be fighting a different type of struggle," wrote Young's relative, Lisa Rodriguez, on Facebook shortly after her death.
She added, "Nothing is the same when they are gone."
