Owen's Story
OWEN’S STORY:
Owen Willers died on Father’s Day, June 16, 2024 just 2 weeks after graduating from high school in Nashville, Tennessee. Owen excelled in school and won multiple awards at the honors night before graduation, for his outstanding artwork, kindness, and character. He was well-respected and admired. Owen was selected as “Best Boy” as a 9th grader, voted on by teachers and peers. He was a representative on the Honor Council from 8th grade to 12th serving as President of the council his senior year. Owen enjoyed drawing. His AP art project his senior year was entitled “The Mental Health of Teens” where he gave a personal and vulnerable insight into the struggles teens experience in “today’s world” through his drawings and prints.
Owen was known for being selfless and kind. He was physically strong. He valued discipline, work ethic, and integrity. He had a smile that lit up a room. He was funny and had a broad repertoire of accents and the best impersonations. You could find him in the weight room early before school pumping iron with his headphones, spotting his younger brother, Charlie, or helping another student with their form. Owen was the best partner in pickleball, because he never got mad at you for a bad shot, and always had an encouraging “nice try”, even when the team was losing. Owen enjoyed getting away to the art studio during class breaks to work on his art projects. Perhaps most notable is that Owen had a pure heart and kind soul. He intentionally welcomed those individuals on the outside into his circle. He made a seat for you at the lunch table. He welcomed the student who didn't have a place to sit on the bus. He was encouraging and patient. Owen had the uncanny and mature ability to make you feel like you were the only, and most important person in the world when he spent time with you. Owen made you feel welcomed, loved, and accepted. Owen planned to be a psychologist to help others. He wanted others to optimize their mental health, whether participating in high level sports or simply trying to make it through a difficult day.
Despite so many wonderful traits, Owen also had battles, like many of us do. He struggled with insomnia, low self-esteem, and a smartphone addiction. He had ADHD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Depression, and Body Dysmorphia (a form of OCD). Despite medications, therapy, close friends and family, Owen felt isolated as he fought these demons. Owen often turned to his phone for distraction as well as support, which led further to sleep disturbances, anxiety, and worsening BDD.
Two weeks after Owen graduated high school, he had an anxiety attack. Owen tried to quiet his mind. He drank a few beers. He did his mindful breathing exercises. He took his medication prescribed by his psychiatrist. When the prescribed dose didn’t work, Owen took more pills. Still battling his panic attack and desperately wanting to rest, Owen then took a handful of pills of an over the counter sleep aid/allergy medication. Owen died that night.
There is no sensational story- there were no illegal drugs in his system, his blood alcohol did not indicate he was drunk, and there was no suicide note. Owen died of a lethal combination of alcohol, a prescription drug, and an over the counter medication. He fully intended to wake up the next morning to complete the Father’s Day card that he left to his Dad on his desk.
