Marie Osmond Talks About Her Son's Suicide - Show Recap

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Oprah spoke with Marie Osmond about her son Michael's suicide.

It's been eight months since Marie Osmond's 18 year-old son Michael tragically took his own life and the usually upbeat performer sat down with Oprah today for her only interview to discuss the events surrounding his death, the warning signs and what-ifs that still have a place in her mind, and to pay tribute to her child with a touching performance.

Watching a mother, famous or not, talk about losing a child is a topic that is difficult to witness, but often serves as a lesson to parents watching the show. In this case, Marie Osmond was given the opportunity to share how special her son was and is to her, but also give the warning signs of depression and past drug use that could possibly help other teenagers and parents watching. While her son Michael appeared happy and well adjusted on the outside, Marie Osmond shared that his pain went very deep and he was too young to be able to see past the hopelessness. Understanding her son's depression because of her own history with post-partum depression, Marie Osmond shared that if would have only been a few days before she was going to see him again, but that the illness can't wait that long and rational thinking can seem impossible.

This episode featured the following highlights:

• In February of 2010 while Marie Osmond performed with her brother in Las Vegas, her son Michael texted a friend, wrote a note to his family, and jumped to his death. Marie chose to have a one time interview with Oprah to discuss her son, her loss, and how she's moving forward.
  
  
• Marie Osmond experienced post-partum depression and was able to relate to the irrational thoughts and hopelessness that her son was feeling, knowing that the happiness he showed on the outside wasn't the complete truth to the pain he felt within.
  
  
• With a past of drug use and a sometimes difficult childhood, Marie expressed that while her son was clean of drugs at the time of his death, the traces of his past use lingered in his life.

This episode gave Marie Osmond the chance to share her painful experience in a one-time interview with Oprah so that her story would be handled with respect and she could then move forward in the public knowing that she honored her son and their life together in the way she wanted. Sharing her son's pain and experience can also serve to help other mother's watching their children deal with pain not knowing how to help. Recognizing the signs of depression and finding help is a way for Michael's story to not be in vain, but to serve to open the conversation with other families to prevent other teen suicides.