Pete Townshend has opened up about his personal struggles with mental health.
In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, the Who guitarist revealed that he suffers from ‘chemical depression.’ “When I first wake up I’m suicidal, actually suicidal,” the guitarist explained.
He explained that waking up very early — between 2 and 5 AM — helps him a little, as he’s still in the same mental state as the day before.
It usually takes Townshend about 30 minutes in the morning to pull himself out of his dark thoughts. He also shared that having a morning routine and regularly journaling have been very helpful for him. “I have a couple of cups of tea, two digestive biscuits — apparently equal to 17 sugar lumps — and I feel happy,” he added.
Even when he has ‘everything he wants’ in his life, it doesn’t help. “If I start my journals before I have my cup of tea, I’ll paint a very bleak picture of my life. Despite the fact that I have everything that I want and everything that I need…And I have had a really extraordinary life.”
The guitarist also admitted that he’s not comfortable with anyone who claims to have all the answers when it comes to mental wellness. “I think because of social media in particular, the way that we carelessly share not only our anxieties but also perhaps our solutions. We’re a bit careless about that because what works for me won’t necessarily work for you.”
The issue of mental health in the music industry has gained more attention since Townshend began speaking about his personal struggles. Earlier this year, Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler also opened up about his own challenges and reflected on the lack of support he faced when he first spoke out in the 1970s — something that has improved over time.
Research from the charity Mind has shown that people working in the music industry are more likely to experience mental health problems than the general population. Musicians, in particular, are up to three times more likely to suffer from depression.
