This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.
After a successful career that spanned multiple decades, Sinéad O’Connor has passed away at the age of 56.
News of the musician’s death broke on Wednesday, but an official cause of death has not been released yet.
O’Connor’s family shared the following statement with The BBC and Irish broadcaster RTE: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”
Throughout her career, the “Nothing Compares 2 U” singer was open about the various health struggles she experienced, many of which were related to mental health.
O’Connor had bipolar disorder
In 2007, the star spoke about her bipolar disorder during an appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and said she experienced thoughts of suicide and overwhelming fear before her diagnosis nearly four years beforehand.
“It’s like being a bucket with holes in it. Just leaking tears from every pore,” she said.
At the time, O’Connor was taking mood stabilizing and antidepressant medications. She told Winfrey they helped, but added that she was a “work in progress.”
“I’m not going to sit here and claim that I’m kind of perfect or anything. Anything is an improvement when you’ve been in desolation … to be out of that place is brilliant. It doesn’t mean you don’t have lumps and bumps,” she said.
Over the years, O’Connor was forthcoming about the effect her condition had on her career. In 2012, she canceled her tour, explaining that she was “very unwell due to bipolar disorder.” The same year, she sought treatment for depression.
In 2017, the Irish singer spoke openly about her mental health and…
Read the full article here
