Rock legend Adam Clayton has revealed how U2’s music saved him from depression – and urged the Irish government to tackle the teenage suicide issue.
Clayton made the plea at the launch of a campaign to save those aged 15-25 from suicide and create awareness of mental health.
The U2 bass player told the Irish Sun newspaper that the cause is something he empathises with.
And he told how music has saved him from the clutches of depression as he battled with mental health issues when he was a socially awkward teenager.
Clayton told the Irish Sun: “For me and the rest of the band it was music that saved us. Otherwise we would have gone a bit mad I’m sure - not mad, but certainly suffered from depression.”
The 52-year-old was one of the celebrities at the launch of ‘Walk In My Shoes’ campaign in aid of the St Patrick’s Hospital Foundation in Dublin.
He added: “When I was 16 or 17, I found it difficult to fit in but then music was the thing that worked for me.
“Later on, I had issues with alcohol and I went to rehab. It was a breath of fresh air to have people identify what was going on for me. Thankfully, by putting down the alcohol, I haven’t had any issues since.
“When I heard about the mental health issues here in Ireland, about young men between 15 and 25 and the high suicide rates and the fact that this is a difficult time, it was an opportunity to do something.
“Music fans - the people we relate to and identify with - tend to be between the ages of 15 and 25, and to hear these high suicide rates is tragic. Any suicide is tragic - but the suicide of a young person particularly so.”
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