Garrison Brown’s Sister Reveals Social Media Pressure Before Tragic Death at 25

In light of her brother Garrison Brown’s sudden death, Maddie Brown is emphasizing the importance of mental health with her followers.

On Monday, the Sister Wives star, 28, addressed her fans in a video on Instagram and thanked them for the outpouring of support she received following Garrison’s death earlier this month.

While opening up about her plans to step “back into normalcy” as much as possible, Maddie shared that the first week was “horrible” and as the weeks passed, she didn’t feel the need to “put pressure to go back to real life.”

Though she admitted that she loved her platform on Instagram and the way she’s been able to connect with her audience, she acknowledged how social media can take a toll on mental health.

“Mental health is so important, and I don’t think we talk about it enough,” Maddie said with emotion in her voice. “And I don’t think we do enough to bring awareness. It wasn’t bullying. It wasn’t a lack of love that Garrison had, it was mental health. And I am going to continue talking about mental health and self care until I am blue in the face.”

After noting how “time is so precious” and self reflection is important if you aren’t happy with the circumstances of life, Maddie emphasized how “social media isn’t real” and people post highlights of their best moments online.

“Garrison used to feel like he wasn’t doing enough because he was comparing himself to things on social media, and I don’t think that it’s real and I think we need to remember that,” she added. “So if you’re ever feeling down on yourself because you see somebody post something, remember it’s their highlight reel, and you didn’t see you don’t see all the stuff going on in the background.”

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On March 5, the son of Janelle and Kody Brown was found dead in his Flagstaff, Arizona home. At the time, Lieutenant Charles M. Hernandez II of the Flagstaff Police Department told PEOPLE that officers responded to a report of a death inside a home and confirmed that Garrison’s brother Gabriel, 22, had “discovered Mr. Brown deceased” in an apparent suicide.

“At this time there is not any indication of foul play, and Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division are investigating,” Lt. Hernandez’s statement continued.

Shortly after the news, Janelle and Kody shared a statement to Instagram confirming the death of their son.

“Kody and I are deeply saddened to announce the loss of our beautiful boy Robert Garrison Brown, He was a bright spot in the lives of all who knew him,” she captioned a series of photos of her son. “His loss will leave such a big hole in our lives that it takes our breath away. We ask that you please respect our privacy and join us in honoring his memory.” (Kody posted the same statement on his own Instagram page.)

Maddie also paid tribute to her sibling, writing on Instagram, “My words seem to fall short. Our hearts our [sic] broken and we are now swallowed with the love now left behind for this beautiful brother. 🩵 God be with you till we meet again. I’ll see you at the gates of Valhalla, feasting with our ancestors who battled before you. Until then, we must live in a more gray world without the light you brought.”