The singer has struggled with depression and anxiety for much of his life
Alexandra Pollard

15:34 26th January 2016

Years & Years' Olly Alexander has opened up about his struggles with mental health issues - including issues with food, self harm, anxiety and depression - and criticised the government cuts to the NHS's mental health services.

Speaking to The Guardian's Owen Jones, Alexander detailed the strugges he faced growing up with mental health issues, beginning when he suffered from sleep paralysis and hallucinations as a young boy.

Speaking of the continued stigma around mental health conditions, he said, "Say you were invited to a party, and you said, 'I'm sick, I've got a really bad cold, I'm not gonna go,' that's totally acceptable, but if you say, 'I'm really depressed, I'm having a depressive episode, I've got to stay in bed', that feels much harder to say."

When Jones pointed out that mental health issues are highest amongst LGBT people, the singer responded, "I think they're connected. Growing up in a straight world is difficult."

Speaking of recent government cuts, Alexander continued, "I care about mental health a lot. It’s affected me and my family a lot, and it annoys me there’s not enough provided and stuff has been cut... When I started trying to get a counsellor on the NHS about 10 years ago, there was a six-week waiting list. And now, I’m told, it’s like three months - it can be - or longer... it feels like mental health is the first thing to get cut".

If you need help, urgent or otherwise, with your mental health - visit Mind.

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