A Sister Wives Tragedy: The Suicide of Garrison Brown
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, call 988 for crisis support.
Like many fans of the long-running reality show Sister Wives, I was saddened to learn that one of the plural family’s children, 25-year-old Robert Garrison Brown, died on March 5, 2024. Flagstaff, AZ, police consider his death to be a suicide. His parents, Janelle and Kody Brown, issued statements on the loss of their son.
Those of us who have watched all 18 seasons of the show know that Garrison, a member of the National Guard, appeared to be a loving son and sibling. Although there were no discussions on the show of any mental health diagnosis for Garrison, the last three seasons of Sister Wives documented the decline of the family’s culture in the wake of COVID and the ending of 3 out of 4 of husband Kody’s marriages. Kody’s estrangement from his older children, including his children with Janelle, was a topic on the show and many podcasts, blogs, and entertainment news reports.
There has been an outpouring of love and support from fans and viewers. Unfortunately, I have also seen accusations and blame around Garrison’s suicide on social media. Having dedicated my life to suicide prevention, I wanted to share a few thoughts.
Suicide is usually caused by a combination of factors.
Whenever I hear people say things like, “She killed herself because her boyfriend broke up with her” or “He did it because he lost his job,” I ask, “Are you sure that’s all that was going on?” Not everyone who endures a breakup or becomes unemployed contemplates suicide. Rather, people in danger of taking their own lives often have multiple risk factors. Thinking there is only one cause can make us miss signs that a loved one is at risk. To say that Garrison took his life because of his father or because of reality TV would likely be an unfair oversimplification.
Everyone should learn about suicide risk factors.
Suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility. Learn the risk factors so you can potentially save the life of a loved one. An untreated or undertreated mental health condition is a significant risk factor. Other risk factors include (but are not limited to) chronic pain, substance use, a history of adverse childhood experiences and/or trauma, social isolation, discrimination, and exposure to the suicide of another. Risk factors, which are different than warning signs, can increase the possibility that a person will attempt suicide.
Check in on your loved ones.
We will probably never know all of the factors that contributed to Garrison’s death. What we can do, however, is take a closer look at the people in our lives. If a loved one recently experienced a major setback in their lives, it’s time to check in on them—especially if they have a history of depression. Normalize conversations about mental health in your family. Create an environment where those around you feel comfortable confiding in you about thoughts of self-harm. Ask about suicide directly. Asking the question will not plant the idea in someone’s head. If your loved one is thinking of taking their life, contact crisis support immediately.
- Learn more about how to help someone in crisis.
- Watch our webinar about preventing teen suicides, presented by Dr. Kiara Alvarez.
- Read AFSP’s article about suicide risk factors, protective factors, and warning signs.
PHOTO: Garrison Brown @robertthebrown via Instagram