Presley Gerber had publicly opened up about his struggles with mental health, substance use and prescription medications months before his death at age 27.

Gerber, the son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber and the older brother of model Kaia Gerber, died on Sept. 20, 2026, while staying at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica, California.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has completed an initial examination, but his cause and manner of death have been deferred pending additional testing. Officials said those tests could take several months.

Gerber Spoke Candidly About His Struggles

In a since-deleted Instagram video posted Dec. 1, 2025, Gerber discussed the difficulties he had been experiencing and the medications he was taking.

“Here’s some clarity for ya – the truth will set you free (hopefully) haha,” he wrote in the caption, according to Just Jared.

Gerber said he had experienced “a lot of loss in many different forms” and acknowledged that it was not an excuse but was part of the reason he was struggling at the time.

He said he had been taking several medications, including buprenorphine, Valium and Xanax. He explained that Xanax was something he used when his panic attacks became particularly severe, while Valium was another medication he was using as he tried to stabilize his treatment.

He also discussed taking mirtazapine, an antidepressant, and prazosin, which he said was being used to address night terrors. Gerber described himself as taking medications from several different classes and expressed uncertainty about how to manage them.

Gerber said he had consulted numerous psychiatrists but felt frustrated by receiving different recommendations. He also said he was trying to reduce his alcohol consumption and distance himself from people and influences he felt were unhealthy.

A Message About Not Feeling Alone

Despite discussing his own difficulties, Gerber said he hoped being open about his experiences could help other people who were struggling.

He said he wanted people dealing with mental-health or substance-use issues to know that they were not alone.

His comments have resurfaced following his death, offering a glimpse into the challenges he had described publicly less than a year earlier.

Gerber had previously spoken about depression and panic attacks and had used his public platform to discuss mental health. In a 2023 podcast appearance, he described mental health as a major part of his life and said he hoped his experiences could help others avoid some of the mistakes he had made.

Death at California Rehabilitation Facility

Gerber died at a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica on the morning of Sept. 20.

According to the Los Angeles Times, emergency responders were called to the facility after reports of a cardiac arrest and a possible overdose. Gerber had reportedly arrived at the facility only hours earlier.

Santa Monica police are investigating the death. Reports have indicated that investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding any drugs that may have been involved, including where they came from. However, authorities have not established that drugs caused Gerber’s death.

The medical examiner’s decision to defer the cause and manner of death means that no definitive conclusion can currently be drawn about what caused his death.

Family Requests Privacy

Gerber’s death has brought renewed attention to his previous public discussions about mental health and addiction.

His family has asked for privacy as they mourn his death.

For those who followed Gerber’s life and career, his earlier willingness to speak openly about mental health has become part of the story surrounding his final months. But until the medical examiner completes the additional testing, the circumstances and cause of his death remain officially unresolved.

Sources: Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner; Los Angeles Times; PEOPLE; Just Jared; Us Weekly; Santa Monica Police Department.