Martin Short honored his late daughter, Katherine, with some help from Selena Gomez and her Rare Impact Fund.
“It has been a very difficult year for me, needless to say,” Short said, per People.
“It has been the heartbreak of our family, as you can imagine. But we have also understood in the last eight months — I think my whole family has understood — that mental health and cancer, which took my wife, for example, are both diseases. They are diseases, and sometimes diseases are terminal.”
Short’s wife, Nancy Dolman died at age 58 in 2010 following a battle with ovarian cancer. She and Short had been married since 1980. In addition to Katherine, Short and Dolman also share sons Oliver, 40, and Henry, 36.
“Katherine fought for so long with extreme mental health issues — borderline personality [disorder], other things — and she did the best she could until she couldn’t,” he said, adding that it is important to raise “awareness to help people understand that mental health is simply an illness, not to be hidden in the shadows or perceived as a family embarrassment.”
The actor went on to say the loss of his daughter “will be devastating to my soul as long as I’ll live.”
Katherine Short, a social worker and NYU graduate, died by suicide in February at the age of 42.
Short’s comments came during Gomez’s fourth annual Rare Impact Fund Gala in Los Angeles this week, held to celebrate the organization, which started in 2020 as a beauty brand with a “focus on mental health and self-acceptance.”
Since then, it has raised more than US$30mil to support youth mental health organizations and initiatives, with a goal of raising US$100mil in the future.
During the event on Wednesday, Gomez unveiled a new award, The Katherine Short Legacy Award.
“There is one part of tonight that means a lot to me,” she said. “Katherine was a social worker who devoted her own career to helping people through some of their hardest points. This award will carry her name forward by honoring people who have made that same kind of commitment to their communities.”
Short, who stars alongside Gomez in Only Murders In The Building, was on hand to present the accolade.
“Katherine devoted herself to her profession as a clinical social worker, promoting open, compassionate conversations about mental health, and her commitment extended beyond her profession and well into the community,” he said “So what an honor it is for me to be [here] helping present this award, which honors those creating lasting impact through their commitment to mental health and well-being.” – New York Daily News/TNS
Those contemplating suicide can reach out to the Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service (03-2935 9935/014-322 3392); Talian Kasih (15999/019-261 5999 on WhatsApp); Jakim’s family, social and community care centre (011-1959 8214 on WhatsApp); or Befrienders Kuala Lumpur (03-7627 2929/email sam@befrienders.org.my/befriender centres in malaysia).
