In a heartbreaking and emotional revelation, The Young and the Restless star Mark Grossman, who plays the tormented and complex Adam Newman, has opened up about a deeply personal tragedy that continues to shape him to this day. While on State of Mind, the mental health-centered YouTube series hosted by General Hospital star Maurice Benard (Sonny), Grossman peeled back the curtain on a chapter of his life many fans knew nothing about.

Though the actor himself doesn’t suffer from mental illness, he revealed that his younger brother did—and the loss still haunts him. Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia just a few months before his death, Mark’s brother tragically passed away on New Year’s Day 2007 at just 17 years old. Mark was 19 at the time and admitted that he didn’t fully understand what his brother was going through during those difficult years.

He reflected on how it began gradually—his brother withdrawing from school, asking to be homeschooled, distancing himself from friends, and eventually spiraling into full paranoia. From wearing all black to showering in the dark, and even carrying a baseball bat around the house, the signs were there—but like many families facing a loved one’s mental health crisis, they didn’t know how to respond.

Grossman’s story casts a new light on his portrayal of Adam Newman, a character who often battles with inner demons, isolation, and emotional turmoil. Could this real-life loss influence upcoming storylines for Adam? Viewers can expect to see more of Adam’s vulnerabilities and possibly another on-screen heartbreak that mirrors the actor’s own experiences.

Stay tuned to The Young and the Restless—because behind the scenes, the pain is real, and the drama is just beginning.