“First of the ‘big’ holidays without you sweetheart,” she shared on Instagram Dec. 1. “We laughed about your silly sense of humor and told so many stories honoring you. We ate, played games and enjoyed each other’s company. Everyone is returning home now and normal life resumes tomorrow. But I feel you close by.”
"He was a bright spot in the lives of all who knew him,” Janelle and Kody shared to their respective Instagram pages at the time. “His loss will leave such a big hole in our lives that it takes our breath away.”
Instagram
After the tragic news was shared, his sister Madison urged her followers to be more open about their mental health.
"I don't think we talk about it enough and I don't think we do enough to bring awareness," she said in a March Instagram video. "It wasn't bullying, it wasn't a lack of love that Garrison had, it was mental health, and I am going to continue talking about mental health and self-care until I am blue in the face."
She also included a note on the dangers of the Internet.
"Social media is not real—it's a highlight reel and that was something that Garrison and I talked a lot about," she continued. "I know my other siblings and my mom have expressed this—that Garrison used to feel like he wasn't doing enough because he was comparing himself to things on social media and I don't think that it's real and we need to remember that."
"I am constantly reminded just how many people are touched by this kind of loss," she wrote. "Every day, I hear from people who, like me, were blindsided by the sudden absence of a loved one."
And she emphasized she’s still learning to cope with her grief.
"I miss him dearly, and the truth is, I don’t know how to talk about this," she continued. "His death took us all by surprise. It leaves me wondering—if we talked about mental health more openly, could something have changed?...For anyone who’s been touched by this kind of loss, my heart is with you. You’re not alone in the pain, and it’s okay not to have all the answers."
To see how more stars marked the holiday season, read on...
If you or someone you know needs help, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.