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Outpouring Of Emotional Support After Pete Davidson Posts Alarming Message On Instagram

Pete Davidson posted an alarming message on Instagram before deleting his account on Saturday. The Saturday Night Live star was found alive and safe after the post appeared to be about a desire to die, and now friends, fans, and mental health supporters are sending Davidson their love from around the world.

The young actor and ex-fiance to Ariana Grande posted the Instagram message shortly after a conversation on Twitter that began with a tweet by Grande asking “grown men arguing online” to “behave” on the day that she and Miley Cyrus released new music. The men she was referencing were reportedly Kanye West and the rapper Drake, who were at the time having an argument on Twitter that was related to mental health.

“Drake verbally attacked Cudi when he was in the hospital and went at me after TMZ because I decided to release albums in June,” West wrote. He followed up by talking about his own struggle with mental illness and the stigma he’s endured.

“I am able to experience first hand how people who have mental health issues get written off by society.”

Davidson came to Kanye West’s defense on Twitter. “No one should ever point fingers at you for your bravery in speaking about mental health,” he wrote. Not long later, he posted a message on Instagram just before deleting his entire account.

“I’m doing my best to stay here for you but I actually don’t know how much longer I can last. All I’ve ever tried to do was help people. Just remember I told you so.”

A police officer was sent to Davidson’s workplace to check on him, and NBC confirmed to the police that he’s fine.

Pete Davidson has Borderline Personality Disorder and has been open about both his illness and his experiences with feeling suicidal. Earlier this month, he posted on Instagram promising to never commit suicide, seeming to refer to being harassed by people online.

“I’ve spoken about B.P.D. and being suicidal publicly only in the hopes that it will help bring awareness and help kids like myself who don’t want to be on this earth,” he wrote. “No matter how hard the internet or anyone tries to make me kill myself. I won’t. I’m upset I even have to say this.”

Since posting and deleting the message that prompted the police check, both fans and those who experience mental illness have tweeted their support for the young comedian.

The entire sequence of events has people on Twitter talking about mental health and how difficult it can be to go through life with a mental illness, no matter who you are. There was also widespread condemnation of the people attacking Davidson online and allegedly encouraging him to end his life.

According to Mental Health America, 44,000 people in the U.S. die by suicide every year. Having a mental illness, particularly one as serious as Borderline Personality Disorder, increases a person’s risk of death by suicide substantially. According to an article in Current Psychiatry, studies have found that individuals with this disorder suffer from a rate of suicide that’s 50 times higher than the general population.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or feelings, you can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK). You can also reach Crisis Text by texting “START” to 741-741.