On the surface, 19-year-old McKenna Grace Martin looked to be in a great position – beautiful, a budding acting career, loving parents and plenty of friends.
But behind this exterior, McKenna was struggling, and she tragically died in April 2018, having taken her own life at the tender age of 19.
Early Life
McKenna was born in 1998. She had a keen interest in the media throughout her youth, and had a YouTube channel where she uploaded videos that she has written and directed.
She made her first major TV acting appearance in the well-known Manhunt: Unabomber show. This was the first of surely what would have been many more appearances.
Moreover, she was modelling for a well-known agency, and was well on her way to becoming an accomplished writer, which had earned her many awards in her younger years.
Everything seemed to be going well. She was attending the University of Southern California at the time of her passing.
McKenna’s mental health struggles
But in the background, mental health issues were lurking. McKenna first started having bouts of anxiety and depression upon starting college in Autumn 2017.
Tragically, within months, she passed away. What makes it worse, is that McKenna sought help from her University, through their counselling and student support team.
After voluntarily seeking help during Autumn 2017, McKenna was turned away by the University’s counselling team, who determined that after a 20-minute phone assessment she didn’t need treatment. This would have been devastating for McKenna.
When someone bravely admits that they need help, only to be told by a so-called professional that they don’t, it can leave someone confused, angry and disappointed.
Instead, McKenna was given a list of resources that might benefit her. This effort was clearly not befitting of aiding a student that was in a state of deep emotional sorrow.
It appears that the University neglected its need to provide students with support – the very students that pay the wages of the counselling team.
By mid-March of 2018, McKenna’s mental health had deteriorated. She was having mood swings, leading to her emotions being erratic. She was prescribed a new medication, but this didn’t seem to work.
Death
Tragically, in the weeks leading up to her death, McKenna had told her loving mother she didn’t have any thoughts of harming herself, and that she would never act on any suicidal feelings.
Then, just six days before her death, she texted a friend to say “Yo… I’ve been HELLA happy today And I was trying to figure out why. Like figure out what was different today vs any other day. And the only thing that makes sense is that I talked to you. So… we need to talk more <3”
But then on the night of 3rd April 2018, McKenna tragically took her own life. Her family believe that she accidentally took her own life, though harrowingly, we will never know the truth of what exactly happened on that fateful night.
It is incredibly sad that McKenna attempted to get help, only to be turned away. Her incredible potential also being lost was an enormous shame.
She reached out to a few friends on the night of her death, but nobody quite understood just how low she was feeling.
McKenna’s Grace
McKenna Grace Martin will always be remembered. Her family set up the charitable organisation McKenna’s Grace in the aftermath of her death.
The organisation has the aim of preventing suicide on college campuses. This includes providing more resources to support those in need of mental health support, as well as raising the awareness of suicide among the public.
The website for the organisation remains active, and social media pages also exist.
Summary
This case is yet another reminder that we must look past the smile and outgoing exterior of a person, and to remember that behind public view, that struggles can be ongoing. May McKenna Grace Martin rest in peace.
A friend of hers – Tyler Parrish, uploaded a poignant tribute video of McKenna on YouTube, in the aftermath of her death. The video attracted several loving comments.
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