Introduction
A Lingering Pain: Marie Osmond Opens Up About Depression and the Tragedy of Losing Her Son
For many parents, the birth of a child is a moment of boundless joy. But for Marie Osmond, that happiness was accompanied by a silent inner battle. After giving birth to her seventh child, she had to confront severe postpartum depression, a pain she only revealed years later.
After her diagnosis, Marie was prescribed antidepressants. The medication helped her get through the negative feelings, but at the same time, it “stole her joy,” leaving her feeling empty and numb. At one point, a negative reaction to the medicine caused her to be rushed to the hospital, an incident the media speculated was a suicide attempt, though her family denied it. That harrowing experience helped her understand a part of the “dark place” that people with depression endure.
A few years later, a true tragedy struck. In 2010, her son, Michael, passed away after a long battle with depression. Days before the heartbreaking event, Michael had an emotional conversation with his mother. He told her he had no friends and felt hopeless. Marie comforted him, promising to visit him on Monday so they could talk. But that Monday never came.
That loss tore Marie’s heart apart. She was not only grieving the loss of her son but also the feeling of helplessness, unable to save Michael despite having experienced a similar pain herself. Although she doesn’t live with chronic depression, Marie affirmed that she “understands that place, that darkness.”
Marie Osmond’s story is a powerful reminder of the complexity and devastation of depression. It shows that even people who seem to have it all can be fighting a silent battle. Her candidness is a wake-up call, urging everyone to show understanding and compassion for those who are struggling with an invisible illness.