UPDATE: On Aug. 29, Josh Seiter shared a video message on Instagram confirming he's still alive, saying that his social media account had been hacked.
"I'm sorry for all the pain they caused when they made that post," he shared in part. "I just got back into my account.
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Bachelor Nation family has lost one of its own.
Josh Seiter, who competed on Kaitlyn Bristowe's season of the Bachelorette in 2015, has died, his family shared in statement posted to his verified Instagram account. He was 36.
"It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share the tragic news of Joshua's unexpected passing," the Aug. 28 statement read. "As all who knew him can attest, Joshua was an incredibly bright light in an increasingly dim world. His fearless voice and indomitable spirit helped thousands of people in their darkest moments feel just a little less alone."
The family said that, for right now, they intend to keep Seiter's Instagram posts, which had detailed his yearslong struggles with mental health and depression.
"Although our headache at Joshua's passing pains us beyond measure, we find comfort in knowing that he is finally at peace," their statement continued. "We hope and pray that his spirit can continue to live on in the pictures and words on this page, which we will leave up for the time being."
While they did not share a cause of death, they did conclude their message with the suicide and lifeline crisis number for those "experiencing a mental health crisis and needs help."
Seiter previously shared that his battles with anxiety and depression exacerbated in the years following his 2013 law school graduation.
"The next seven years were incredibly trying, but they set me on a path towards bringing worldwide awareness to an issue bigger than myself, and I wouldn't trade those years for the world," he wrote in a March 2020 Instagram post. "I am glad the universe put me here to share my story of hope and persistence with all of you."
Those seven years saw Seiter appear on season 11 of The Bachelorette, where he was sent home week one. After leaving the reality show, Seiter transformed his career path to become an advocate for mental health and wellness.
In July 2021, he posted a statement detailing his experiences with suicidal ideation at age 21, reading, "I am suicide attempt survivor. #EndTheStigma."
"If you are struggling right now with your mental health I want you to know you aren't alone, there is hope and there are resources, and it does get better," he wrote. "Therapy isn't a weakness. It requires an undeniable toughness. And it is so worth it."
His last social media activity prior to his death included him reposting celebratory messages after he came out as bisexual in June 2023, as well as a smiling selfie on Aug. 24.
"Surviving depression and anxiety," he wrote at the time, "one day at a time with a smile."