Terrible news to pass along this evening. Mindy McCready, multi-platinum selling country artist and Celebrity Rehab 3 cast member, reportedly committed suicide earlier today. Stacy McCloud, a reporter for Fox 17 in Nashville, broke the story, reporting the following on Twitter:
A close family friend of Mindy McCready has informed me that the country singer has committed suicide. Not confirmed with OFFICIALS. #Sad
— Stacy McCloud (@stacymccloud) February 18, 2013
Multiple reports have since confirmed the news that McCready took her own life tonight, reportedly by a self-inflicted gunshot. McCready’s boyfriend, country singer David Wilson, died just a few weeks ago of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, after which People reported that she was “committed to a treatment facility to cope with mental health and alcohol issues.”
We here at VH1 would like to offer our condolences to McCready’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. More on this story as it develops.
UPDATE: Celebrity Rehab counselor Jennifer Gimenez just tweeted out the following:
My thoughts & Prayers go out to Mindy McCreadys family & friends! This news is devastating! May your soul now rest in peace!
— Jennifer Gimenez (@JenniferGimenez) February 18, 2013
And Dr. Drew Pinsky just released this statement:
> I am deeply saddened by this awful news. My heart goes out to Mindy’s family and children. She is a lovely woman who will be missed by many. Although I have not treated her for few years, I had reached out to her recently upon hearing about the apparent suicide of her boyfriend and father of her younger children. She was devastated. Although she was fearful of stigma and ridicule she agreed with me that she needed to make her health and safety a priority. Unfortunately it seems that Mindy did not sustain her treatment.
Mental health issues can be life threatening and need to be treated with the same intensity and resources as any other dangerous potentially life threatening medical condition. Treatment is effective. If someone you know is suffering please be sure he or she gets help and maintains treatment.
[Photo: Getty Images]