Yahoo Lifestyle 'Riverdale' Alum Mädchen Amick Reveals Son Entered a Psychiatric Hospital During 'Intense' Mental Health Struggle (Exclusive)
Mädchen Amick will always be her son's biggest cheerleader — no matter what.
The Riverdale actress, 54, gave an update on son Sly's mental health while chatting exclusively with Parade ahead of Amick's Don't MiND Me Gala, which takes place in Palm Springs on Friday, March 8. Sly, 32, was diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder in 2012, and Amick revealed the diagnosis in 2023.
"He's been great, he's celebrating 16 months [of] sobriety and [has] been stable," she tells Parade before opening about a recent slip of his that he was able to "recognize" and take action. "He had a bit of a destabilization last year in October, but like I said, got right on top of it, got right into a psychiatric team and they made some medication adjustments."
Noting that Sly — who has been open about his substance abuse issues, which stem from his struggle with bipolar disorder — did not relapse during his destabilization, Amick goes on to tell Parade that his staying sober was part of the reason he was able to take control of his mental health in those moments.
"That was one of the huge markers he destabilized and yet, you know, [he] stayed sober and caught his mania really quickly. It was a very intense spike," she continues, adding that a "mix up" in his treatment program where one of his "main" medications wasn't renewed was the catalyst.
"He actually voluntarily admitted himself to a psychiatric hospital so they could get on top of the medications really quickly," she tells Parade. "It's always a scary thought to go into a psychiatric hospital, but sometimes it's just very needed, because a lot of times what they need to do is administer very strong medications in order to get on top of a wave. Whether it's a depressive wave or a manic wave. You just need to be in a really safe environment while they do that, and then hopefully within a few days, you're safe enough to now go back to whatever your situation is."
Amick adds, "It's something that is always scary as a family member, supporting someone going through it. And [it's] always scary as the patient, but sometimes very needed."
The Twin Peaks star's continued advocacy for mental health awareness and care doesn't stop at sharing Sly's story, though. Amick tells Parade that Sly — who now works as a certified peer specialist in patient advocacy — will be an integral part of their plans for building Mental Health Recovery of Palm Springs, an all-inclusive campus with a holistic, long-term approach to mental health care.
"We're in the development stage of our own treatment center, and he's gonna be so vital to the program," Amick shares. "That's really what this next fundraising gala is all about: helping us get that treatment center on its feet."
Donations will directly fund their initiatives — advocacy, action and access — to include resource technology, education, training, treatment and support services for people and their families affected by mental health challenges. Don’t MiND Me’s Crisis Intervention Scholarship Fund also provides financial support for individuals who are in need of mental health treatment without payment options, which is something that is of utmost importance to Amick.
"The biggest thing is making it accessible to all," she tells Parade. "We're going after this big medical grant because we want you to be able to come to our doors, and if you meet medical criteria, we're not gonna turn you away for financial reasons. That's the biggest obstacle — finding somewhere that's primary mental health care. And then when you finally do, you can't afford it, or you're underinsured. We want to make mental health care accessible to all."
If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text "HOME" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or visit their website.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available 24 hours a day through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Hotline at 1-800-662-4357.
Related: Kristen Bell Says Opening Up About Mental Health Struggles Has Been Therapeutic
