Maddie Brown, the daughter of “Sister Wives” stars Kody and Janelle Brown, is opening up about her feelings following her brother’s heartbreaking demise.
Earlier this month, Garrison Brown, the fourth of six children, died of an apparent suicide in his Flagstaff home. His older sister recently addressed his death in a candid video, sharing why she believes social media is partly to blame for the unfortunate incident.
Janelle Brown’s Daughter Drops Important Message About Mental Health
On Monday, Maddie updated her Instagram page with a lengthy clip about her brother’s death and the importance of mental health. She began by thanking her followers for the outpouring of love and support she had received following Garrison’s death.
The 28-year-old confessed that the first week after her younger brother’s passing was “horrible.” However, as time passed, she wasn’t pressured into thinking she had to get “back to real life.”
Maddie stressed that she is willing to get “back into normalcy” as much as possible, which is why she wants fans to understand the importance of mental health.
Although she is grateful for the supportive platform and how she has connected with her audience, it didn’t overshadow the cons of social media.
“Mental health is so important, and I don’t think we talk about it enough. And I don’t think we do enough to bring awareness,” Maddie shared before reflecting on how it had affected her late brother. In her words:
“It wasn’t bullying. It wasn’t a lack of love that Garrison had; it was mental health. And I am going to continue talking about mental health and self-care until I am blue in the face.”
Maddie Says Social Media Influenced Garrison
Maddie stressed that “social media isn’t real” as people mostly shared highlights of their best moments online.
She noted that self-reflection is crucial if one isn’t happy with the circumstances of their lives; however, they should never compare themselves to those on the internet.
Using her late brother as an example, the 28-year-old said, “Garrison used to feel like he wasn’t doing enough because he was comparing himself to things on social media, and I don’t think that it’s real, and I think we need to remember that.” She continued saying:
“So if you’re ever feeling down on yourself because you see somebody post something, remember it’s their highlight reel, and you didn’t see you don’t see all the stuff going on in the background.”
In the post’s caption, Maddie explained that she was motivated to share her thoughts on mental health after talking to a friend who has also been “intimately touched by the tragedy of suicide.”
Fans Positively React To Maddie’s Message
Maddie’s emotional message touched the hearts of her followers, who flooded the comment section with their take on mental health and healing through the loss of a loved one. One IG user shared:
“That was beautiful, Madison. Mental health IS health. It needs to be dis-stigmatized and treated respectfully. I know so many ‘intelligent’ people that run from anyone with Mental Health challenges.”
“Let’s embrace and rally around them as we would anyone who experiences any type of physical health issues,” the individual concluded. Another supporter chimed:
“Grief is non-linear and looks different for every person. Be gentle on yourself [red heart emoji].”
A third related to Maddie’s struggle to return to normalcy, writing, “It’s hard to go back to normal after a death, but suicide is a different kind of loss. Thinking of you & all your family at this difficult time. My heart breaks for you all.”
Garrison Was Buried In A Private Ceremony
Four days after his tragic demise on March 5, Garrison was laid to rest in a private ceremony surrounded by the Brown family. His cousin, Emma, confirmed the news in a poignant Instagram post alongside different pictures of the deceased.
The images captured Garrison hiking, enjoying a face mask with his cousin, and a cute image of his younger self. Emma captioned these throwback snaps with a letter detailing her thoughts after the funeral.
“Dear Robert, I had to dress up for your funeral today, and this is everything i wish you could’ve heard before i had to say goodbye,” she began, adding:
“We love you. I don’t even own a picture of you without your contagious smile. I don’t know if I have the right words to say I’ll miss you. I wish I was able to give you a hug and tell you how much you were loved.”
Garrison Was More Than A Cousin
In her letter, Emma raved about her friendship with Garrison and stressed that he was more than a cousin. The duo allegedly planned to go on several backpacking trips but only ever made it to one.
The grieving relative highlighted some of their treasured memories, writing, “I’ll miss your goofy dad jokes, our coffee runs, the dinners we shared. The times we watched movies, and you always let me put messy face masks all over our faces.”
Additionally, she noted that Garrison always looked out for her by ensuring she had eaten and was ready to listen to all her problems or stories. Emma concluded her message:
“You were a son, a brother, a soldier, and a friend. If there is a God, I hope he’s giving you peace. I love you, Robert.”