Jared Padalecki Checked Into a Clinic for 'Dramatic' Suicidal Ideation: 'A Really Low Moment' (Exclusive)

“I was letting my thoughts take over,” the actor said

Jared Padalecki revealed that he once checked into a clinic after struggling with suicidal ideation.

In PEOPLE's exclusive clip from the June 25 episode of Tommy DiDario’s I’ve Never Said This Before podcast, the Supernatural actor discussed his difficult mental health journey, sharing that he’s been “proudly open” about his experience.

“It was 2015, I had a really low moment,” he said on the show, alongside wife Genevieve Padalecki. “I was letting my thoughts take over and going to places of dramatic suicidal ideation. I called my wife and she said, ‘Get home.’”

“And so, I got home, went to a clinic for a couple weeks and looked into it and haven’t been suicidal since — not for a moment,” he said.

Padalecki, 41, said that he got to a dark place where he truly needed help and he’s not ashamed of it.

“I needed a full reset,” he explained. “I had spent 15 years in this industry. You go to an audition or on a red carpet and they don’t want, ‘Jared, how are you doing today?’ ‘Oh today was rough, I didn’t sleep.’ They want, ‘Oh it’s great! Excited to be here!’ So I had done that for so long, trying to focus on what’s best for the person who’s talking to me as opposed to just being honest.”

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“I don’t wear it as a scarlet letter,” the actor said of seeking help. “It’s not like I’m shameful like, 'Hey, I see a therapist, I've been to a clinic'. I wear it proudly. I put it on my face and tell everybody. If you’re not in a situation where you need that degree of help then don’t seek it. I needed a surgeon — not literally — but I needed it and here I am.”

The star admitted that although he’s okay, there are still ups and downs with his mental health. But he’s able to recover by having people in his life to talk to, urging others to do the same.

“You’re a human, I’m a human. There are still highs and lows. And today’s a low,” he shared, starting to tear up. “I’m fine, nothing to worry about but I have a lot of sadness about Walker [being canceled], the family.”

“And my tears aren't for myself. I know I’ll be fine because I’m talking to you about it, I talk to Gen about it, I talk to my friends about it,” he continued. “Please be open, please share, please find somebody whether it’s a friend or professional. Speak the truth.”

Padalecki added that just because you’re in a low place now, that doesn’t mean things won't change. He said what’s helped him is “keeping an open mind and looking to tomorrow, next week, next month, next year.”

“Today’s a hard day. It's been a hard month since we found out, but I’m in a great place with my wife, our children, my friends, my family,” he said. “Seek help, open up.”

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.

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