An Advocate for Suicide Prevention Day

JOSH TO JOSHUA 

Taken from article written by The Repository:

“A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Broome and his younger brother were raised by a divorced mother and church-going grandparents. At 15, he found steady work as a model. Encouraged by his success, Broome set out for Los Angeles when he was 21 with aims of becoming an actor. While working at a restaurant, he met some women who urged him to consider adult films as way to get into acting. 

"The mental and emotional trauma that is being in that industry is because, essentially, you're doing this stuff in front of three or four cameras and 15 to 20 people on a set," he said. "A thing that's supposed to be private and intimate, and not only that, there's someone telling you what to do and how to do it and when to start and stop, it's so different than what God made us to do. It's really abrasive on a person's mind and spirit."

Broome said the films and fears that his family would find out what he was doing — they did — left him suicidal. "I was ready to take my life," he said. "I thought no organization is going to take me seriously; no one's ever going to want to marry me. I just thought my life is over because of the decisions I'd made."

His lowest point came not on a movie set, but in a bank while he was cashing a paycheck. "I'd made decision to take my life, and I walked into a bank. I was going to deposit this last check," he recalled. "Normally, I would do the drobox or ATM because there was always a memo on the check that says what it's for. It was embarrassing. But, on this day, I didn't care because I was going to end my life anyway."

He was walking away when the teller asked him a question. “She kind of locks eyes with me and she says, 'Joshua, are you OK? Is there anything I can do for you?'" he said. "She didn't know I had shut myself off from all my friends and family. It had been years since I heard my own name. Everyone who cared about me, who told me that I needed to leave the industry, called me 'Joshua,' but I couldn't hear their voices of conviction, so I stopped answering their calls, but when I heard my name, I was shattered. I couldn't do anything but cry."

Joshua decided to leave the industry and called everyone who needed to know that he was “out.” A couple of years later while working at a gym a girl asked him, “Do you know who God is? Do you have a relationship with Him?” He started going to church with her, they became engaged and now are married with children. Broome says, “Jesus did die for me, He came to make me alive.”                

JOSHUA’S PASSION TO HELP

Joshua is now a part of a campaign and is partnering with an organization called “QB United,” founded and started by former NFL quarterback Jeff Hostetler (played for the Giants, Raiders, and Redskins). September 10th is opening day for the NFL, but also “World Suicide Prevention Day” so QB United has a campaign that is bringing awareness and help to those who need acute mental health care, to ultimately prevent suicide. They’ve teamed up with current and past QB’s in the league to be a part of this campaign. 

Taken from QB United pamphlet:

“Every 40 seconds someone takes their own life, let’s unite to change this. Fifty plus NFL Quarterbacks have created a single short-form video, delivering messages of hope and encouragement, urging people to “Stay Here” and seek help if they are experiencing suicidal ideation." The desire is to reach that of a Super Bowl ad, generating 250+million views and “direct those in need of acute mental health care to the 988 crisis lines in order to provide therapy and counseling opportunities to those not in immediate crisis. “BetterHelp” is offering 1 month of free therapy to anyone who signs up through this campaign.”

Taken from Joshua’s Instagram page:

"September is suicide prevention month. There was a time in my life that my mental and emotional help was not ok. I tried to mask, medicate, and run from my problems. Thanks be to God that I am here to live this life I have today. 

I know that God didn’t make us to numb ourselves from the world around us. People need people. Famous or broke. Single or Married. Rich or Poor. Lost or Found. We were not created to live for ourselves or do life alone. I have found healing through experiencing the love of Jesus, seeing myself as a person with intrinsic value and not my mistakes, trusted relationships, having transparent and at times painful conversations to process my past. Pain is real and no one is perfect. If you are struggling reach out to someone today."

You can get all the information regarding QB United here on their website: QB United.