Julian St. John (r.), the son of ‘Young and the Restless’ star Kristoff St. John (left).
Multiple Emmy Award-winning actor Kristoff St. John, along with his ex-wife Mia, announced on Twitter that their 24-year-old son, Julian committed suicide after battling mental illness.
“On November 23rd Kristoff St John and I lost our beautiful son, Julian St John. Our son was the light of our lives, an artist with a beautiful mind and spirit,” the grieving mother wrote. “He fought long and hard against an illness for which there is no cure. Unfortunately the pain became too great for him and I dare not say he lost the battle–he simply chose to set himself free. My fight for mental health will continue. They may not find a cure in my lifetime, but we can try and prevent the loss of another beautiful soul.”
Julian, a talented artist, had suffered from depression ever since he was a child and was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 18.
Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder that may cause the people affected to hear voices other people don’t hear or to become paranoid. They could sit for hours without moving or talking, and when they do talk, they may not make sense.
For Julian St. John, the disorder led him to become homeless, he struggled with drug addiction and had problems with authorities, according to NewsOne.
“He suffered from schizophrenia for many years and tragically lost his life just a few days before Thanksgiving, and two weeks before his 25th birthday,” St. John, an integral character on the “Young and Restless” for two decades, told ET. “His legacy will live on in our hearts and for those that continue to suffer from this insidious disease. We mourn the loss of our son, brother, artist poet, and a giant of a young man. A beautiful life gone much too soon. Julian will forever be remembered as he now takes flight with Angels.”
On Dec. 5, Julian would have celebrated his 25th birthday. Instead, on that day he will be buried by friends and family.