Former I Prevail singer Brian Burkheiser recently opened up about being placed in a mental health institution following his departure from the band. He shared his experience in an interview with Rock Feed.
Burkheiser discussed the difficult period he went through after his exit from I Prevail. This included a manic episode that led to his hospitalization. When asked about the shocking revelation that he was placed in a mental institution after his concerning social media posts stopped, Burkheiser provided a candid response about his experience.
“I mean, yeah, the manic episode put me in a mental health institution or a psych ward, whatever you want to call it,” Burkheiser said. “I just feel like I let them down. I wish everything just didn’t happen the way it did.”
The former vocalist described the events leading up to his hospitalization and his initial resistance to getting help.
“I screamed at my dad. I f*cking screamed at him. They were so worried about me. I woke up cuz I stayed up till like 3:00 a.m. I left the shower running like I don’t even remember it,” he continued. “I woke up and my brother came over there like we’re taking you to a place and that I screamed. I’m like, I’m not going. I’m not going. And thank God everything calmed down and we really all talked about it and I went there and I had some great people, Dr. Lorenz who had been my doctor for seven years helped me get in there.”
Burkheiser also reflected on how his hospitalization affected his family and his eventual understanding of why the intervention was necessary.
“My mentor Sheldon was there, but I mean I left my wife with our kid for seven days and she I mean I would pick up the telephone and call and I’d be so angry at times but get me out of here. I’m scared and I don’t know what to do. And she’d just have to say you got to fight through it,” he said. “I think in the moment I held a lot of resentment against everybody. Like everybody. I said this because of all of you, but over time I think I came to realize I needed it. I needed it. It’s scary, but um there was so much good shit that happened there.”
Burkheiser’s revelations come nearly a year after his unexpected departure from I Prevail. His exit shocked fans and the metal community. His departure from the band marked the end of an era for the Michigan-based group that he co-founded and helped build into one of the most successful post-hardcore acts of the past decade.
AOL reported that Burkheiser left I Prevail in May 2025. The band founder finally got real about the circumstances surrounding his departure. The timing of his exit coincided with what would later be revealed as a significant mental health crisis that required immediate intervention from his family.
Following his hospitalization and recovery, Burkheiser has been working to rebuild his life and career. Metal Underground noted that he has resolved a legal dispute with his former bandmates and launched a new musical project called SCATTERBRAIN. This new venture represents a fresh start for the vocalist as he channels his experiences into new creative outlets.
The former I Prevail frontman premiered his debut original track “PHASES” on February 12, 2026, via Scatterbrain Records. This marked his official return to music. This debut single serves as both a personal statement and a testament to his journey through mental health struggles and recovery.
Burkheiser’s openness about his mental health struggles adds to a growing conversation within the metal and rock community about the importance of addressing psychological well-being. His candid discussion of his hospitalization and the support he received from medical professionals and family members highlights the critical role that intervention can play in mental health crises.
