Josh Seiter, who appeared as a contestant on Season 11 of The Bachelorette, has died. He was 36.

The model’s family confirmed the news of his death on his Instagram page on Monday night (Aug. 28).

“It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share the tragic news of Joshua’s unexpected passing,” they wrote in the post. “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.”

They continued, “Although our heartache at Joshua’s passing pains us beyond measure, we find comfort knowing that he is finally at peace. 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 we do that, we would kindly ask for privacy as we grieve.”

While a cause of death has not been announced, his family provided the phone number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for anybody “experiencing a mental health crisis.” The statement came just days after Seiter’s final Instagram post, which read, “Surviving depression and anxiety one day at a time with a smile.”

Seiter is best known for his short run on The Bachelorette Season 11 when he appeared as one of the many contestants vying for Kaitlyn Bristowe‘s heart back in 2015. However, he was eliminated during the first week.

Earlier this year, Seiter — who was working as a model and adult film actor before his death — came out as bisexual and announced his engagement to a male exotic dancer. While he had since ended his engagement, he continued to perform alongside his former fiancé in an exotic male dancing troupe in the Midwest, according to Out Magazine.

The former reality star — who was just over three years sober — was also open about his mental health on his social media page. In July 2021, he revealed that he previously attempted suicide and that he struggled with obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder and general anxiety disorder.

Last month, Seiter went further into detail about his mental health journey over the last 15 years.

“When I was 21 I was completely catatonic and committed to a psychiatric ward. When I was 22 I tried taking my own life. At 23 I underwent electroshock therapy,” he wrote. “Later that year I harnessed every bit of strength I had and applied to law school. At 25 I graduated law school top of my class. By 30 I became one of the most followed mental health advocates online and one of the top creators on [Only Fans].”

He added, “At almost 36, life is pretty dang near perfect. Never, ever give up. Your story isn’t written yet. Every chapter is leading to a more perfect ending. I promise.”

If you or someone you know are experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 988.