Passion Pit singer Michael Angelakos opens up about mental health for artists
“I cannot continue to operate in this industry, due to the way that it treats people that work for it or create within it”
It's no question that mental health in the music industry has become an increasingly buzzing topic with statistics like musicians being three times more susceptible to mental illnesses and artists like Sasha and Ben Pearce opening up about anxiety and depression.
The latest advocate is Passion Pit's frontman Michael Angelakos, who took to the band's official Twitter last night to unload more than a few poignant personal thoughts about how artists in the music industry are not properly equipped to deal with mental illnesses, citing his own experiences with bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder is the sixth leading cause of disability in the world. (via WHO). I have bipolar I disorder (and a hell of a lot of luck)
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
Many people congratulate me on"recovering" -- a compliment, actually, but complicated. Mental health awareness often just lead to... that.
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
Who could blame people for not understanding something that scientists, doctors, advocates, and patients say they also do not understand?
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
Until it is safer and healthier for us to be advocates, to be a writers, producers, and performers, I simply cannot continue making music.
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
You're either committed to it or not. To raise awareness one moment and announce a show the next doesn't help me. It hurts me. And others.
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
I love Passion Pit and I love music even more. When something would be wrong, I'd try to ignore it. Then I'd almost die. Really.
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
History loves to repeat itself and it's because of systems and their flaws. So, I decided to make solving this issue my priority for now. xo
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
i make so much music on a regular basis. the only way i can do that is because i work really hard to stay healthy. better health = more art
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
"mental health reasons" went over REALLY well when I had to cancel shows 5 years ago (in a hospital receiving electroconvulsive therapy)
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
was pretty rough but then my drs and i worked out a relatively manageable balance btwn treatment and touring. toured for over two years. <3
— #weneedscience (@passionpit) July 24, 2017
Though initially, many took Angelakos' Tweets as a resignation from music, the singer has since confirmed that he and the rest of Passion Pit will continue to make music. He instead plans to step away from being a "commercialized artist" and other related demands as an artist.
Angelakos has been a vocal advocate for mental health since opening up about his own battles with bipolar disorder in 2012. Last year, he launched the Wishart Group to provide artists with health care, education and legal services. Earlier this year, Passion Pit gave away their 'Tremendous Sea of Love' album for free to those who supported the ongoing '#weneedscience' campaign focused on research of mental health.
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