In a note posted across his social media accounts, musician Zayn Malik has opened up about the reasons he cancelled an appearance at London’s Capital Summertime Ball, despite having flown into the city specifically to perform. 

In a brave move, he frankly addresses his own mental health, writing that, “My anxiety that has haunted me throughout the last few months around live performances has gotten the better of me... With the magnitude of the event, I have suffered the worst anxiety of my career.”

The singer goes on to apologise to his fans for pulling out and promises to make it up to them in the future. He also expresses solidarity with other people who experience anxiety, and writes that he “hopes those who don’t can empathise with (his) situation.”

For someone who lives their life so entirely in the public eye and who has gained a reputation for being relatively private, it’s a powerful statement. It’s no exaggeration to say that we have a male mental health crisis on our hands – men in the UK between the ages of 20 and 49 are more likely to die from suicide than any other cause.

The singer’s letter is commendable – his words send out a message not only to the music industry, and the immense demands it can put on artists, but to the world at large. Mental health should not be a taboo subject – Malik’s actions go one step further towards making that a reality.