More details are coming out in the Owen Wilson case, and it seems relatively clear that his hospitalization was for a suicide attempt, and that it was not an accidental drug overdose or another medical emergency, as has also been suggested. He did cut his wrists and take pills before he was found in dire condition by his brother Andrew.

He has issued a statement asking for privacy that doesn’t confirm or deny anything, saying “I respectfully ask that the media allow me to receive care and heal in private during this difficult time.”

Owen has a history of substance abuse and depression. He was in rehab, at Hazelden in Minnesota, in 2000, and was said to have attended AA meetings as recently as 2003. Extra quotes a source as saying that he has been depressed for months and that it is not due to his breakup with Kate Hudson, as we assumed.

He is now under observation at Cedars-Sinai medical center in LA, and is in a special unit reserved for celebrities with its own suite of rooms. He is under 24 hour observation for now, which should last from two to three days. He is said to be in good condition.

Visitors have included his family members and actor Samuel Jackson.

The news is still shocking to me and I hope Owen can come to terms with his depression and reach a better place in his life. This is going to sound trite no matter how I phrase it, but maybe Owen’s very public brush with suicide will help bring awareness to the serious and deep pain of depression. We need to reach out to our friends and loved ones if we or someone we love is going through something similar. Lives are at stake.

When we see a celebrity go through something like this, it reminds us that we have friends and family that might need our help too.

Header photo is an older one, thanks to Splash News.