Mom Of Soap Opera Star Billy Miller Opens Up About His Death After Battle With Bipolar Disorder

*Content warning: the following article contains discussion of suicide/self-harm.

Soap opera star Billy Miller died Friday in Austin, Texas, at the age of 43, and his mother confirmed in a statement to Soap Opera Digest that he "surrendered his life" after struggling with bipolar disorder for years.

Miller's mother Patricia said of the General Hospital and The Young and the Restless star's struggle:

“He fought a long hard valiant battle with bipolar depression for years."

“He did everything he could to control the disease. He loved his family, his friends and his fans but in the end the disease won the fight and he surrendered his life.”

The statement continued, addressing speculation surrounding the actor's death:

“The other causes of death being told are not true."

“I wish they were but they just aren’t. We all loved him so much and are desperately trying to deal with our loss."

"I will have nothing further to say. Thanks for the love and support.”

A representative for Miller also confirmed that he "was struggling with manic depression when he died" ahead of what would've been his 44th birthday.

Several of his former costars as well as The Young and the Restless itself took to social media to share their heartbreak.

Many others online also expressed their sadness over this tragic loss.

Miller rose to fame in 2008 as Billy Abbott on The Young and the Restless, for which he won three Daytime Emmy Awards, before leaving in 2014 for a five-year run on General Hospital. He also had recurring roles on Suits and Ray Donovan.

Miller's mother also thanked her son's many fans in her statement, saying:

“I want to personally thank the many fans & personal friends for the overwhelming amount of love, prayers & condolences sent to me and my family on the devastating death of my beautiful son BJ — Billy Miller.”

If you or someone you know is struggling, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.

To find help outside the United States, the International Association for Suicide Prevention has resources available at https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/.