Presley Gerber, the 27 Club and the pain of losing someone so young

Presley Gerber, the 27 Club and the pain of losing someone so young.

Key points

• If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or substance employ, call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for SAMHSA's National Helpline.
• Presley Gerber, the son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, has died at 27.
• Some even dubbed Gerber a new member of the 27 Club, the tragically connected group of stars who have all died at the same age.
• When someone young dies, it calls into question what we might consider the natural course of life, explained Doriel Jacov, a psychotherapist and founder of DJ Psychotherapy.

Presley Gerber, the 27 Club and the pain of losing someone so young. Sara Moniuszko USA TODAY. Cindy Crawford's son, Presley Gerber, dies at 27.

Presley Gerber, the son of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, has died at 27. He died on Sunday, September 20, at a rehab facility, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner records.

Notably, the unexpected death of Cindy Crawford's son Presley Gerber has caused a range of reactions online – and his young age of 27 is sparking another level of shock.

"It's disturbing to see such young people, who never experienced life to the fullest, leave so early, " one user posted on social media.

"Such a young light gone, " another commented. "Wow this is so unfortunate he was very young, " another wrote.

Some even dubbed Gerber a new member of the 27 Club, the tragically connected group of stars who have all died at the same age. While the unofficial club has mostly focused on musicians, like Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain and Jim Morrison, it has since expanded to include other young celebrities, according to the Rolling Stone.

"Sad he's apart of the 27 club, " one person commented on a social media post. "Gone too soon." "CLUB 27 WHEN WILL THIS (expletive) END, " another wrote.

Whether you were one of Gerber's fans or just learning of him now, the realization that his life was cut short at such a young age can have a psychological impact since it disrupts our own assumptions concerning life, according to mental health experts.

For example, we may believe life is safe, just and that the world can be predictable and fair, explained Michelle Smith, a licensed professional counselor.

"Stories like Presley Gerber's death can challenge these beliefs and assumptions and remind us of just how much lies outside of our control, our lives and the length of them included, " she remarked.

Dive deeper: Who are Presley Gerber's parents? What to know regarding model's family.

Our brains like to feel "in control, " Smith continued, but a young death "reminds us that we only hold power over how we respond to what happens in life and we cannot control every external circumstance or outcome."

"We generally expect younger people to have a full and long life ahead of them, so when someone like Presley Gerber dies at age 27, we're confronted both with the death itself but also the loss of life we imagined they still had ahead of them, " Jacov explained, adding a death like this can "also bring forward existential questions for people close to that age, making mortality feel more immediate." Disrupting the 'projected life sequence'.

Others have additionally pointed out the unique grief that comes with a parent losing their adult child.

"My heart is absolutely broken for Cindy and her family. He was the same age as my son. It's unfathomable. My prayers to all of them, " one user shared on X.

"Just imagine the pain of mother who lost her child, " another wrote.

More: Mary Cosby tearfully opens up regarding late son Robert Jr. In 'RHOSLC' return.

Grief can look different for every loss and individual depending on the relationship, cultural context, prior losses and the circumstances of the loss, Jessica Stacy, a licensed therapist who specializes in grief, previously informed USA TODAY. But when a parent loses an adult child, the grief can "feel disorienting" since it "disrupts the expected life sequence, " Stacy stated.

Plenty of parents, she stated, carry an implicit belief that they will die before their children.

"When that narrative is shattered, " Stacy remarked, "it can create not only profound sadness but also existential disorientation, or a feeling that the world no longer makes sense." Contributing: Alyssa Goldberg, USA TODAY. SMS Facebook Twitter Email. Share your feedback to support improve our site! Share your feedback to support improve our site!

Taken together, the developments around presley Gerber, the 27 Club and the pain of losing someone so point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.