Musicians who have struggled with mental health issues – Matty Healy (The 1975)

Matty Healy, along with his band, The 1975, had a successful night at last night’s Brit Awards. They won Best British album for “A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships”. I decided to write this blog for the benefit of those who may not know much about the band.

2013 saw the release of their debut album and to date they have released another three, with a fourth due later this year. It was before the release of “ABIIOR” when Healy admitted that he was addicted to prescription drugs. He commented that he didn’t want to risk “being another statistic in that prescription drug opioid crisis that hit America”, (1).

In the video for “Give Yourself A Try” it shows how Healy battled with his mental health problems, including depression, by showing him in therapy. There is a point where he shares his goal to “be as earnest as he feels.” He had previously shared similar sentiments about sincerity and detailed the feelings that led him to rehab in the first place. He described how he loved going out on stage and talking to thousands of people. but didn’t like going back to his hotel room and sitting on by himself for hours.

“I knew that I wasn’t going to detox myself, so I went away and I got clean. I wasn’t going there to get straight edge, I didn’t have a drinking problem or anything else, I was just chemically dependent on a substance and I didn’t wanna make a record as a fucking junkie. Who wants to hear that?” (2)

Whilst some people may scoff at Healy’s way of just going away to get clean, as his finances could enable him to. The vast majority who suffer from depression and addiction are not able to do this. The important thing toremember is that having the want to change yourself is the first stepping overcoming any negative feelings you may have about yourself.

(1) Billboard https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8459081/the-1975-matty-healy-drug-addiction-rehab-interview

(2) DIY http://diymag.com/2018/06/01/the-1975-cover-feature-give-yourself-a-try-music-for-cars