Jersey Shore’s Ronnie Ortiz-Magro is spreading awareness about mental health after sparking concern in a recent video.
“High functioning depression is waking up each day with a face that works but a heart that doesn’t, doing everything you’re supposed to do while feeling nothing inside, and most days it’s like being trapped in your own life, forced to keep moving even when every part of you wants to stop,” a quote read via Ortiz-Magro’s Instagram Story on Monday, May 4.
In a separate Instagram Story, Ortiz-Magro, 40, shared a screenshot of a graphic that read, “May is Mental Health Awareness Month. 1 in 4 people will suffer from some form of mental illness in any given year. Not all pain is physical and not all wounds are [visible].” The graphic added, “Break the silence. Break the stigma.”
Ortiz-Magro also went on to post a message that read, “May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Depression is more than being sad. Anxiety is more than worrying. OCD is more than being tidy. Bipolar is more than mood swings. PTSD is more than just flashbacks. Schizophrenia is more than seeing things. EDs are more than being underweight. Borderline is more than instability. Addiction is not just ‘a choice.’”
Ortiz-Magro sparked concern in a recent Jersey Shore interview, when he appeared to drift off to sleep. In the wake of the viral video, Jersey Shore star Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino shared his support for his costar.
“I want to be clear that I am not responsible for the actions of any other cast member,” Sorrentino, 43, wrote via his Instagram Story on Friday, May 1. “At the same time, my heart is heavy seeing what Ron, a grown adult, chose to present during press.”
“The situation is still developing, and while I do not know the full extent of what he may be going through, I do know it is separate from my path,” Sorrentino added, referring to his own sobriety journey. “I will help where I can, including through my organization, The Archangel Centers.”
Sorrentino, who has been sober since 2015, said he had attempted to check-in with his costar. (Ortiz-Magro has also been open about his own substance abuse struggles after going to rehab in 2018.)
“I reached out to check in and offer my support, and I am still waiting to hear back,” Sorrentino said. “If he is willing, I will be there for him. My heart is with anyone who is struggling.”
He concluded, “I have worked hard to protect my sobriety for nearly 11 years, and I honor that every day while continuing to show up with compassion for others.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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