Cheslie Kryst was a lawyer, Miss USA 2019, and a television correspondent for Extra. To many people, she appeared successful, confident, and accomplished. Yet behind that success, she was silently struggling. The day before her death, she posted on Instagram: “May these days bring us peace.” Shortly afterward, she died by suicide, leaving behind a grieving family, friends, and millions of people shocked by the loss.
Her story reminds us of an important truth: success does not protect someone from emotional pain.
Suicide Attempts and Dying by Suicide
There is an important difference between a suicide attempt and dying by suicide. Suicide attempts are more common than completed suicides. In many cases, an attempt can be a desperate cry for help—a way of saying:
“I can’t continue living like this.”
When someone dies by suicide, the act is often more carefully planned and involves methods that are far more dangerous. Many people who struggle emotionally give warning signs beforehand, but these signs are sometimes ignored, misunderstood, or dismissed as attention-seeking behavior.
In reality, many individuals feel isolated and trapped in their own thoughts. They may believe they have no one to turn to, or that nobody would truly understand what they are experiencing. When people can no longer see a solution to their problems, suicide may begin to feel like the only escape.
Mental Disorders Are Real Illnesses
Mental health conditions affect millions of people worldwide. Some of the most common categories include:
- anxiety disorders,
- mood disorders such as depression,
- psychotic disorders,
- dementia-related disorders,
- and eating disorders.
There are also sleep disorders, personality disorders, and sexually related disorders that can deeply affect a person’s emotional well-being.
These illnesses often involve intense fear, emotional pain, hopelessness, or distress. For some individuals, these feelings become so overwhelming that they begin thinking about suicide. This is why recognizing symptoms early and seeking professional help is so important.
No one should feel ashamed of having a mental disorder. Mental illnesses are just as real as physical illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, or chronic pain.
The Pressure to Appear Strong
Mental health is just as important as career success, money, or material achievements. Yet society often teaches people to hide emotional struggles in order to appear strong.
This silence can be dangerous.
Thousands of people around the world struggle with mental health problems but avoid speaking about them because they fear being judged, misunderstood, or seen as weak. Social media often makes this even harder. Online, people usually share glamorous moments, achievements, beauty, and happiness, while hiding loneliness, anxiety, depression, or emotional exhaustion.
As a result, it becomes difficult to recognize when someone is suffering.
Some people experiencing mental illness also struggle to ask for help themselves. They may feel stuck, hopeless, or convinced that nothing can improve their situation. Over time, these thoughts can create feelings of worthlessness and despair.
Sometimes, a person may begin to believe that life itself has lost meaning.
We Need More Conversations About Mental Health
The taboo surrounding mental health needs to disappear. Talking openly about emotional pain, depression, anxiety, and suicide can save lives.
Listening matters.
Checking in on people matters.
Taking warning signs seriously matters.
Not everyone who is struggling will openly ask for help. Sometimes the most important thing we can do is create a space where people feel safe enough to speak before it is too late.
If there is one lesson to take from stories like Cheslie Kryst’s, it is this:
You never truly know what someone is carrying behind their smile.