KIIS FM’s Next Level Prom winner Kaylee and her mother, Juliana, were thankful and appreciative to have won the prom package hookup on Wednesday, March 27, but the opportunity to chat on-air turned into a far more important conversation: An important PSA for suicide presentation that left Ryan Seacrest, along with the rest of the team and fellow listeners, in tears.
Juliana expressed her gratitude and shared that the prom hookup for her high school senior comes on the heels of the family’s devastating loss.
“I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you guys,” Juliana shared. “Our family right now is broken and this couldn’t have come at a better time so thank you guys, we appreciate it. We have just lost one of our children last week … I want to use this platform … to give out the information to the suicide prevention line to save another family from being broken. … This call meant more than we could ever imagine … we’re going through a lot of emotions from anger, guilt —just everything — so this call just gave us a little blessing and is helping us a lot.”
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Juliana added that if she could tell someone contemplating suicide anything, she’d remind them that they’re loved and not alone.
“Your family really loves you and your family would be devastated to lose you,” she said through tears. “At times you may be feeling lonely, but there’s somebody out there that loves you and would truly miss you. Reach out and call someone. If it’s not your mother or father or siblings, someone will listen, you just have to be willing to speak to someone in order for them to help you … I hope this phone call saves more than one life if it saves one.”
The call was the first time in radio history for Ryan, who expressed his desire to help Juliana and others in any way he can.
“That is something I’ve never ever dealt with in the 15 years I’ve been doing this show,” Ryan said. “I’ve never dealt with that.”
As we send our prayers and strength to Juliana’s family, please join us in sharing the below information:
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).