Below Deck Med’s Cathy Speaks Out Following Her Stepfather’s Suicide
Below Deck Mediterranean‘s Cathy Skinner is sharing her thoughts on the tragic death of her stepfather by suicide, a detail that was not initially highlighted on the popular Bravo series.
“Personally, I told myself, ‘I’m not going to confront this until the show airs because I’ll be reliving it.’ Whether that’s the right or wrong approach, I can’t say,” Cathy revealed to Us Weekly as she opened up about her loss. “I managed to compartmentalize, grieve, and have my moments. But now, it’s time for healing.”
Cathy learned of her stepfather’s passing from her mother, who called to share the devastating news while the cameras were rolling for season 10. It took some time for Cathy to reconnect with her family after deciding to stay on board.
“Especially my mom and I, we are both quite emotional. Not spending a lot of time together immediately helped. It allowed us to calm down before discussing it so that it wasn’t too raw,” she noted. “But a suicide — they refer to us as suicide survivors. We’re the ones left to navigate the aftermath. The pain is enduring. It lingers.”
Cathy reflected on the tough questions she faced immediately after the tragedy, adding, “Especially without notes and so much confusion. If this helps even one person, I’m grateful. Whether it’s someone who has experienced suicide, someone healing from loss, or someone struggling with their mental health, I hope they can see that emotions are fleeting. A bad week does not equate to a bad month; a bad month isn’t a bad year, and a bad year doesn’t define a bad life.”
Viewers watched Cathy cope with the impact of her stepfather’s death in a December episode of the show. The details surrounding her loved one’s passing were not disclosed on screen, which caught Cathy by surprise.
“I anticipated a more thorough explanation. My primary reason for sharing my vulnerability was the hope that it might help someone. I felt a bit disappointed that it seemed somewhat concealed, as if there was shame surrounding it,” she told Us. “I really wished they would have discussed it more — especially since other deaths on the show had their causes mentioned. It felt a bit sidelined.”
Cathy emphasized her appreciation for the support she received behind the scenes.
“I received incredible support from the production team, the camera crew, and everyone involved. I can’t fault them. It’s a sensitive topic, and I truly believe they were trying to be careful with me and my family,” she added. “Do I want to watch the next four episodes featuring me constantly crying about death? No, I don’t. It was a difficult decision. But I do wish it had been acknowledged at least.”
She continued, “If I can leverage my platform to convey that I’m not ashamed, then let’s dive into this conversation.”
Cathy described the loss as something “absolutely unimaginable.”
“I felt completely blindsided. Moreover, just months prior, I was coping with the death of one of my best friends while on charter. The grief and PTSD were settling in. The fact that it was a suicide hits so much harder. I’ve never experienced anything like this,” she shared with Us. “But I stayed — and the way I stayed — was due to my mom’s incredible strength. Of course, our conversation was much longer than what viewers see. … I wanted to be strong. I take my moments, but I’m enjoying the things I love. I was having the time of my life. To face something like this while feeling at my happiest is challenging. But I know I was in the right place, and I have no regrets.”
She concluded, “In this new year, I plan to heal, attend therapy, and talk about it. I need to learn how to be alone instead of just keeping busy. It’s challenging and will continue to be. You can’t fully grieve someone’s life in just one year.”
Below Deck Med airs on Bravo Mondays at 8 p.m. ET. New episodes are available for streaming the following day on Peacock.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or contemplating suicide, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
