Presley Gerber's Death: Spotlight on Mental Health and the Burden on Celebrity Families
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- Presley Gerber, putra supermodel Cindy Crawford, meninggal dunia pada Minggu (20/9) diduga akibat serangan jantung usai overdosis.
- Mantan kekasihnya, Lexi Wood, mengenang Presley sebagai sosok yang gigih berjuang melawan kecanduan dan ingin membantu orang lain melalui kisahnya.
- Kepergian Presley menyoroti pentingnya dukungan kesehatan mental, terutama di kalangan anak muda dan keluarga dengan tekanan publik.
A wave of grief has swept through the international entertainment world. Presley Gerber, the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber, died on Sunday (Sept. 20) in the Santa Monica area of the United States. Police received reports of a suspected overdose and heart attack. Presley took his last breath at age 27, leaving a profound loss for his family and those closest to him.
Lexi Wood, Presley's ex-girlfriend and a star of the reality show Summer House, was among the first to pay public tribute. In an Instagram post, she shared moments of their time together and wrote a touching message. "It's hard to put into words losing someone who meant so much to me for so many years. In every chapter and version of our relationship, friendship was always at the core," Lexi wrote.
Lexi remembered Presley as kind, open, loving, and brave. She specifically highlighted Presley's resilience in dealing with mental health issues and substance abuse. "He was so resilient. He fought hard for his life and was brave enough to be open about that struggle. More than anything, he wanted to use his story to help others, and he did," she continued.
Presley's passing is not only a tragedy for his family, but also a reflection of how fragile mental health is among young people, especially those who grow up in the public eye. A source close to the family told People that the Crawford-Gerber family is devastated, with Presley's younger sister, Kaia Gerber, feeling the loss most acutely. "Kaia loved Presley's openness about his struggles; his family is very proud that he found strength in helping others," the source said.
Presley never hid his struggles with mental health and substance abuse. Before his death, he repeatedly spoke of his desire for others not to repeat the "mistakes" he had made. Last September, Kaia also revealed how her brother's struggles shaped her character. In an interview with Vogue, she admitted she had always identified as the "easy child" and was reluctant to ask for help for fear of burdening the family. "When something like that happens in a family, everyone is on equal footing. That's why I started to think of myself as the easy one and never wanted to ask for help. Because it felt too heavy to have two children who both needed support," Kaia said.
Presley Gerber's case highlights the importance of affordable, stigma-free mental health support, especially for young people facing social pressure and high expectations. In Indonesia, mental health issues are still often ignored, with limited access to psychological services and strong social stigma. This event can serve as a reminder that anyone, even those who appear successful and popular, can grapple with serious internal problems.
Going forward, Presley's legacy as someone who bravely spoke about his vulnerability could encourage more open discussion about mental health and substance abuse. However, the big question remains: will the entertainment industry and broader society truly support prevention efforts, or only react after tragedy strikes?
