Watch and Discuss "Emmerdale": A Tragic Turn

We knew this was coming, but it's still difficult to watch. Take a look and join the conversation below.

Oh, Aaron. No amount of hugs will work until you can hug yourself.

What's interesting is that Aaron's friends and family really take him to task for beating up gay mate Jackson. His mother angrily scolds him "What's next, women, children, the disabled?" She tells him he isn't a real man, he's a coward, which in hindsight probably helped seal his decision to try and take his own life.

The suicide attempt was difficult to watch, especially when you consider how often these events transpire in real life with gay teens. Aside from great drama, episodes such as this are important tools in opening up dialogues between gay teens and their peers and family.

Hopefully the rage and self-hatred Aaron has inside will begin to subside when he experiences the love and support of his family and friends. And maybe he'll count his blessings, because not every gay teen has that.

It's not often we see a show take on an important story like this with an already established character, so kudos to the TPTB and the actors involved for bringing us along on Aaron's harrowing and compelling journey of self-discovery.