Shawn Mendes opens up on mental health journey, says he learned to 'welcome lows of life' over last year

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Shawn Mendes reflected on his personal growth and mental health journey over the past year.

On Tuesday, January 2, the 25-year-old singer took to Instagram to post a video of himself singing along to a harmonium, sharing that practice helped him deal with his mental health issues.

Shawn Mendes says he learned 'to listen' over the last year

Known for his chart-topping hits, Mendes revealed that singing without the pressure of perfection had become a crucial coping mechanism for him in dealing with anxiety and fear.

"I realized there were only moments of bliss and euphoria from the 'right' notes because of the 'wrong' notes," the 'Wonder' singer wrote on Instagram.

"The only reason I can sing in key is because I've learned to listen," Mendes added.

One of the most significant lessons Mendes learned in 2023 was "to accept and welcome the lows of life" instead of constantly seeking change to regain a sense of high.

Shawn Mendes previously canceled tour dates to prioritize his well-being

In July 2022, the 'Treat You Better' singer canceled his tour dates to prioritize his well-being. 

In an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1 in June 2023, Mendes candidly spoke about his new work as he shared insights into his life ahead of turning 25.

"I think I am approaching 25 still feeling quite confused about a lot of things in my life. And I think that was expressing that feeling of frustration about what is happening, this feeling of swinging the pendulum back and forth…," said the performer.

"I think I still am in a very confused place, but I know that there are some people in my life who I deeply love, and I know that music is something I deeply love, and I know that this planet is something I deeply love," he added.

"And all of those three things are something worth fighting for and worth dying for. And I think that was where that energy was coming from," he continued.

The songwriter admitted struggling in his recording studio to fing his voice musical identity, according to ET. "I feel like over the last year and a bit, I've just been really struggling in the studio to find my voice and to find myself musically and to even have the courage just to be in the room with writers or step into the booth and sing," Mendes shared. 

"And I was upstate New York and just on the back end of feeling a lot of things about relationships, about my career, about environment.

"And I was in the studio and this moment of just deep frustration came over me and I finally started to feel this inspiration come. And honestly, in that moment, it felt like it was the first time I felt that in a year and a half in the studio," he added.