Liam Payne Opens Up About Suicidal Thoughts: One Direction Star Discusses Mental Health in Candid Interview
Liam Payne, the former member of One Direction, sadly lost his life on Wednesday, October 16, following a tragic fall from his hotel balcony in Argentina. Argentine authorities reported that the incident occurred at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, where the 31-year-old singer had been staying since the start of the month.
TRIGGER WARNING: THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES SELF-HARM AND SUICIDAL IDEATION.
Having been open about his mental health battles throughout his career, Payne previously shared his experiences with suicidal thoughts during his time with One Direction. In the 2019 documentary “Ant Middleton And Liam Payne: Straight Talking,”as well as in a 2021 episode of “The Diary of a CEO”podcast, Payne conveyed his struggles. He expressed in 2019:
“For some certain circumstances – I’m quite lucky to be here still, which is something I’ve never really shared with anyone.”
“Just every so often, you’re like, when will this end?”: Liam Payne shared his thoughts on suicide
The tragic death of Liam Payne on Wednesday sparked widespread contemplation regarding the singer’s openness about his mental health struggles. As mentioned earlier, during the 2019 Sky show “Ant Middleton And Liam Payne: Straight Talking,”he reflected on his fortune to still be alive.
Payne admitted during this appearance that he had “100%”acted on suicidal thoughts during difficult periods in his life. He candidly stated that there was no sense in denying these experiences, as they had crossed his mind multiple times. He remarked:
“I can’t go too deep into it because I don’t know how I feel myself. I still haven’t made my peace with it, to be honest.”
In response to Middleton’s acknowledgment of having faced similar struggles, Payne observed that both had likely encountered parallel situations. He elaborated:
“There are moments when the feeling of isolation and relentless pressures become overwhelming. Every now and then, you find yourself wondering, when will this end?”
Liam further shared that these mental health challenges had come close to taking his life on a couple of occasions. He expressed gratitude for having “really great people”around him who supported him throughout his struggles, emphasizing the importance of adopting a “different perspective”on his issues.
Reflecting on Ant Middleton’s previous statement, Payne conveyed that when problems accumulate, “it can really get you.”He stressed that those facing such situations must shift their mindset since the only element one can control is oneself.
When it came to handling challenges, Liam’s approach was to “get on with it”and “focus on today.”He explained:
“Just tackle that part, then expect another challenge in a few weeks, or even the following day. Life is unpredictable.”
Liam Payne also discussed his ongoing battle with mental health in a 2021 episode of “The Diary of a CEO.”During that conversation, he talked about the suicidal thoughts he faced at the peak of One Direction’s success, expressing concerns about hitting what he referred to as his “rock bottom.”He stated:
“I was worried about how low my rock bottom could go. Where is rock bottom for me? You’d have never seen it. I’m adept at concealing my feelings.”
In this revealing interview, the singer also opened up about his struggles with substance abuse, recalling moments when his appearance reflected his battles, referring to photos from his One Direction days as his “pills-and-booze face.”When asked whether his suicidal ideations were linked to his dependency issues, Payne confirmed this connection, stating:
“There’s a lot I have never shared. It was a serious issue. It was only when I took a step back and viewed my reality that I realized I needed to make a change.”
According to the BBC, a police inquiry has begun regarding Payne’s death, and an autopsy is pending. He is survived by his 7-year-old son, Bear Grey Payne, as well as his parents, Geoff and Karen Payne, and sisters, Ruth and Nicola.
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