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By Kelly Smyth

When it comes to mental health, Shawn Mendes has never shied away from being open about vulnerability and struggle. The Canadian heartthrob disappeared for over 2 years following the announcement of the cancellation of the “Wonder World Tour” in 2022, which was estimated to gross over $100 million.

Mendes, now 26, has finally taken a step into the spotlight again with the release of his highly anticipated self-titled album “Shawn” on the 17th of November 2024. His return has been marked by honest discussions of why he cancelled his tour- and why he thinks its important to be open about his struggles. In an interview with the New York Times, Mendes revealed he was “severely depressed” and found himself becoming dependent on alcohol to cope during the “Wonder” tour. However, rather than following in the steps of other stars who had succumb to addiction, Mendes made the decision that “broke his heart” and cancelled the tour.

However, his mental health struggles due to his hectic lifestyle wasn’t the only hardship reflected in the album. An unexpected theme of grief appeared in the song ‘Heart of Gold’, a standout for many fans. The singer-songwriter revealed the acoustic tune to be a dedication to his late childhood friend, Dejomi, who passed away of a drug overdose in 2018. On the 11th of October, Mendes also dedicated a rendition of the song to Liam Payne following his tragic death. As he addressed the crowd in New York City, Mendes explained the song was also written to celebrate the lives of those who have passed: “It’s about grieving those we miss with tears, but it’s also about celebrating them… who they were and what they’ve left in this world”.

While the cancellation of his “Wonder” tour was difficult for both Mendes and his label, Island Records, the value of his mental health exceeded the costs. In his return to the stage, one important lesson that can be learned from Mendes is that having a support system is essential. Mendes has attributed his close friends and collaborators Mike Sabbath and Eddie Benjamin as being essential to his return, with the two regularly performing with him throughout his “Friends and Family Only” show circuit. He also has a close bond with his sister Aaliyah, 21, who has accompanied him to many shows. In addition to this, Mendes also highlights the importance of mindfulness- with therapy sessions, meditation and journalling forming part of his routine.

Stepping away from social media also formed a big part of his healing, according to Mendes. As he introduced his new tune ‘The Mountain’, he reflected on how damaging social media was for his mental health and had him questioning himself: “From every word that would come out of my mouth to the way I would sit in a chair, everything”. Overall, Mendes described this era of his healing as rejecting perfection and learning to find balance: “Oftentimes, I went from wanting to look like the image of perfection to I’m just going to be a man in the woods, and I don’t care what I look like, I don’t care what you think”.

Despite a long hiatus, ‘Shawn’ reached No.2 on Billboard’s US Folk Album chart following its release last November. His open discussions of his experience of depression and anxiety are essential in breaking the stigma surrounding men’s mental health, with his dedication to healing allowing him to finally take the stage again. Hopefully his decision to value his mental health will create space for other artists to do the same.

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