“Summer House” Star KJ Dillard Says He&x27;s &x27;Shocked&x27; to Receive Messages from Fans Sharing that He &x27;Saved Their Life&x27; (Exclusive) Charna FlamThu, June 11, 2026 at 7:05 PM UTC 0 KJ Dillard on June 08, 2026 in New York, New York.Credit: John Nacion/Variety via Getty KJ Dillard partnered with mental health service Rula as its Men&x27;s Health Ambassador for June&x27;s Men&x27;s Health Month He spoke exclusively with PEOPLE about the partnership and his decision to reveal his mental health journey and recent Borderline Personality Disorder diagnosis "I&x27;m just shocked because ...
“Summer House” Star KJ Dillard Says He's 'Shocked' to Receive Messages from Fans Sharing that He 'Saved Their Life' (Exclusive)
Charna FlamThu, June 11, 2026 at 7:05 PM UTC
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KJ Dillard on June 08, 2026 in New York, New York.Credit: John Nacion/Variety via Getty -
KJ Dillard partnered with mental health service Rula as its Men's Health Ambassador for June's Men's Health Month
He spoke exclusively with PEOPLE about the partnership and his decision to reveal his mental health journey and recent Borderline Personality Disorder diagnosis
"I'm just shocked because I was just speaking my truth," he says of the inadvertent impacts of openly discussing his story
Summer Housestar KJ Dillard knew TV had an influence, but he only recently realized how "powerful" a tool it can be.
The Bravo newcomer spoke exclusively with PEOPLE about sharing his mental health journey on the reality TV series, which led to his recent partnership with Rula. Rula is a mental health service that connects patients with practitioners.
Dillard, 28, is serving as the brand's official Men's Health Ambassador for June's Men's Health Month, encouraging men to invest in their mental health. He explains that choosing to work on this partnership was a "natural" decision, because after he had a mental health crisis in the fall, it was difficult for him to find a therapist.
"It was hard for me to find a platform that had the tools for me to succeed," he tells PEOPLE. "I wish I would've had something like Rula during my struggles because it would've helped me tremendously." He also credits the company for its ease of access and affordability, which allow people access to mental healthcare.
Despite that, he knows it's still difficult for men to reach for mental health treatment, but he says, "Do not let your pride get in the way." He notes that men typically won't talk about mental health, "because we think it's not tough to talk about our feelings," but he emphasizes the importance of speaking up to allow "other men to feel heard, and seen and [begin] healing."
Dillard has felt the effects of publicly talking about his mental health, with fans supporting and thanking him for sharing his story. During Summer House season 10, he was vocal about his anxiety.
It was during the reunion that he became even more vulnerable; he revealed he was hospitalized for a week and diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). He tells PEOPLE that the diagnosis allowed him to "finally" understand what was going on. "I needed that because for years I didn't know what was going on with me or why I felt things so deeply."
Since the May 26 episode, he's already received messages from fans sharing how much his story has impacted them. "People will literally message me and say that I saved their life," he says. "I'm just shocked because I was just speaking my truth. That's all I was doing."
In turn, he feels as though he became the face of men's mental health overnight, and he wears it as a badge of honor. "I'm blessed," he says, adding, "but it went from zero to 100."
Jesse Solomon and KJ Dillard during "Summer House" reunionCredit: Jocelyn Prescod/Bravo
He confesses he didn't think this rally of support would happen, but is hopeful it urges others "to feel comfortable to speak about their truth and know that they're not alone."
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He acknowledges that his candor has prompted people to ask, "How are you able to just speak so openly about this?" But he says he's an open book: "I don't mind sharing my truth and my story as long as I know that it's going to help other people."
"I can't bring fame with me. I can't bring money with me. All I can bring is what I contributed to society and that's what matters to me at the end of the day because I'm fulfilled by that," he says, calling it an "everlasting" feeling.
He acknowledges that he's still healing himself. "Healing just doesn't happen overnight," he says. "It's still putting in the work each and every day post recovery."
As for his recovery in the fall, he greatly appreciates his costars' support, sharing how supportive Carl Radke, Ciara Miller and Mia Calabrese have been throughout the process. He previously said during the reunion that Mia and Ciara were by his side, but he tells PEOPLE that Radke also had a "huge role" too and serves as a mentor. "I want the world to know that."
KJ Dillard for the "Summer House" reunionCredit: Clifton Prescod/Bravo
"He made such an effort. I'm very thankful for Carl," he says, adding that Radke's own mental health journey "impacted" Dillard. "Carl has shown me that you can be in this field, struggle with life, and come back out on top and still struggle with things," he says. "I love Carl to death. Like, he really is truly a brother to me. Like how I look at Mia and Ciara as my sisters, I look at Carl as my brother."
Dillard adds that Miller opened up her home, and Calabrese continues to check in on him, explaining, "With Summer House, these are true friendships if you allow them to be true friendships."
As for whether he's open to returning to the sharehouse in the Hamptons, Dillard says he's eager to come back. But on his own terms.
"I was trying to fit this mold that I wasn't," he says about his summer 2025 experience. "Where now I'm like, 'You know what? I'm bringing me to the Hamptons ... as is.' "
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Source: "AOL Entertainment"
Source: Entertainment
Published: June 11, 2026 at 06:09PM on Source: PRIME TIME
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