Author Ned Vizzini, who penned the popular young adult novelIt's Kind of a Funny Story, has died at the age of 32, according to reports. His death was ruled a suicide.
A Brooklyn native, Vizzini was known for his frank depiction of teenagers and mental illness. His other titles include Be More Chill and The Other Normals, as well as episodes of the MTV drama Teen Wolf.
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Shawn Ryan, a screen writer and TV producer that had worked with Vizzini, was among the first people to report the passing.
Devastated to report that Last Resort (and many other things) writer @ned_vizzini has passed away. He had a way of making me smile.
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) December 20, 2013
Suicide was a topic that Vizzini openly discussed, particularly in It's Kind of a Funny Story, in which the lead character commits himself to a psychiatric hospital following suicidal thoughts. The book was based on Vizzini's own experience of calling a suicide hotline in 2004, according to an interview the author gave to Strength of US, a website dedicated to supporting young people with mental health issues.
"What I would like young adults to take away from It's Kind of a Funny Story is that if you're feeling suicidal, call a hotline. Suicidal ideation really is a medical emergency and if more people knew to call the suicide hotline we'd have less suicides," Vizzini said in the interview.
Vizzini is survived by his wife and 2-year-old son.
Editor's note: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-SUICIDE.
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