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Gang Of Youths Frontman Dave Le’Aupepe Shares Emotional Post About His Mental Health

CONTENT WARNING: The following article discusses suicide.

Gang Of Youths frontman Dave Le’Aupepe has shared a powerful and emotional statement about his mental health, to mark the fourth anniversary of a very difficult time in his life.

Taking to Instagram, Le’Aupepe — who has openly discussed his experiences with suicidal thoughts in the past — thanked his friends, family and fans for helping him after he tried to take his own life in 2014.

“4 years ago, I tried to kill myself,” he wrote.

“There was this moment, where the belief that there would never be anything more than the shit and piss in everything overwhelmed me for a moment, and I made a decision to make it all stop for good. On that day, even though I believed I was shit and piss, my friends didn’t. My friends saved my life, and they continue to do so every day.”

Le’Aupepe admitted that while he’s now in a much better place, his day-to-day life “can still be hard and weird”.

“My job leaves me depleted and often sleepless, ridden with anxiety and worry,” he said.

“Often, I am not worthy of the platform onto which I’ve stumbled. often I feel like letting the dark swallow me up.

“There are days I roll over and look at my wife and wonder why she bothers sticking around — but she does, she has, and miraculously she continues to do so.

“So every year, I think back to June 3rd, 2014. The day where my friends let me know that I am not shit and piss. I am reminded that my wife, the band, my loved ones, my family and you who care about what we do in Gang Of Youths have given me more reasons to get up out of bed than I could enumerate.”

Le’Aupepe ended his post by telling his followers to “look after each other, say sorry to each other, forgive each other, talk to each other”, and said he will be trying to avoid social media for a while because he wants to be “devoted to other things”.

“I am glad I am still here,” he concluded.

Le’Aupepe has recently been suffering from vocal issues, which recently led Gang Of Youths to cancel a number of their American tour dates.

The band are scheduled to perform at Byron Bay’s Splendour In The Grass festival in July, before embarking on a huge Australian homecoming tour in November.

Read Dave Le’Aupepe’s statement in full, below.

If you or anyone you know needs help or information regarding mental health, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.

Dave Le’Aupepe Statement

4 years ago, i tried to kill myself. there was this moment, where the belief that there would never be anything more than the shit and piss in everything overwhelmed me for a moment, and i made a decision to make it all stop for good. on that day, even though i believed i was shit and piss, my friends didn’t. my friends saved my life, and they continue to do so every day.

in saying that, every day can still be hard and weird. my job leaves me depleted and often sleepless, ridden with anxiety and worry. often, i am not worthy of the platform onto which i’ve stumbled. often i feel like letting the dark swallow me up.

there are days i roll over and look at my wife and wonder why she bothers sticking around — but she does, she has, and miraculously she continues to do so.

so every year, i think back to june 3rd, 2014. the day where my friends let me know that i am not shit and piss. i am reminded that my wife, the band, my loved ones, my family and you who care about what we do in GOY have given me more reasons to get up out of bed than i could enumerate.

that the answer to this question called life is, as nietzsche proclaims, simply “yes”. so thank you all for helping save me, little by little, day by day. look after each other, say sorry to each other, forgive each other, talk to each other. let the world know you will not yield, and that your spirit will not kneel today.

i’m not gonna be on social media much from now on, because i am pathetically devoted to my phone these days, and i wanna be devoted to other things, in the world outside, hope that’s ok.

anyways. i love you. i’ll keep trying my best to do right by you all, and i will try to do better when i fuck up.

i am glad i am still here.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bjkszrwh9N1/

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