CW: Suicide, Mental Health, & Death
The entertainment industry is mourning the loss of Breaking Bad star RJ Mitte. Best known for portraying Walter White Jr., Mitte was a powerful advocate for disability rights while living with cerebral palsy. Mitte died by suicide on Monday at age 34.
As a person with cerebral palsy, I find Mitte’s death heartbreaking. Unfortunately, many people with cerebral palsy experience mental health challenges. A study published in JAMA Neurology in December 2018 found that adults with cerebral palsy were 28% more likely to develop depression and 40% more likely to develop anxiety than adults without cerebral palsy.
Those statistics are more than numbers to me. By the time I was 20, I had developed both depression and anxiety. I know firsthand how heavy those struggles can become while navigating life with a disability. Thanks to medication, family support, and counseling, I am doing much better today. But it was really difficult for me to work through those feelings.
The physical symptoms are difficult. For me, spasticity makes movement challenging, and there are times when I grow frustrated with my body. Yet, cerebral palsy can take a significant toll on mental health as well. The physical challenges are only part of the story.
What people do not always see are the tears shed after a difficult day. They do not see the frustration of living in a body that will not always do what you want it to do, or the exhaustion that comes from fighting the same battles again and again. They do not see the loneliness that can emerge when it feels as though no one truly understands what you are carrying.
Mitte understood that connection. “Cerebral palsy and mental health go hand in hand because when you have a physical disability you’re twice as likely to be bullied,” he said in 2015. He also spoke candidly about how exhausting that struggle could become: “With a physical disability you don’t want to have to fight and it’s not always pain-free, and I remember times when I didn’t want to keep fighting, but I had no choice.”
His words resonate with me. For me, depression and anxiety do not exist separately from my cerebral palsy. They are woven into my journey. Between the fatigue, the physical limitations, the appointments, and the constant need to adapt, there are moments when the weight of it all feels overwhelming. I know I’m not alone in feeling that way.
Behind the statistics are real people trying their best to navigate challenges every day. They are building lives, pursuing goals, and searching for the same sense of belonging and purpose as everyone else.
That is why mental health care matters. It should never be treated as an afterthought. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and disabled people deserve access to the care, resources, and support they need to thrive. Too often, conversations about cerebral palsy focus on physical symptoms while overlooking the emotional and psychological impact of living with a lifelong disability. We need to talk about those struggles more openly and make sure people have somewhere to turn when they need help.
RJ Mitte’s legacy extends far beyond his role on Breaking Bad. He helped millions of people see disability differently. For those of us with cerebral palsy, he was proof that we belonged, that our stories mattered, and that our dreams were worth pursuing. May he rest peacefully.
Sources:
Bowles, Annabel. “RJ Mitte, Breaking Bad Star and Disability Rights Advocate, Dies Aged 34.” ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 13 Oct. 2026, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-13/breaking-bad-star-rj-mitte-dies-aged-34/107258894.
Gorman, Steve. “‘Breaking Bad’ Actor and Disability Rights Activist RJ Mitte Dead at 34.” Reuters, 12 Oct. 2026, https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/breaking-bad-actor-disability-rights-activist-rj-mitte-dead-34-2026-10-12/.
Hurtado, Yamillah, and Sean Mandell. “‘Breaking Bad’ Actor and Disability Activist RJ Mitte’s Death at 34 Confirmed as Suicide: Rep.” People, 12 Oct. 2026, https://people.com/breaking-bad-rj-mitte-cause-of-death-confirmed-suicide-rep-12171018.
Smith, Kimberley J., et al. “Risk of Depression and Anxiety in Adults With Cerebral Palsy.” JAMA Neurology, vol. 76, no. 3, 2019, pp. 294–300, https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.4147.