How Lewis Capaldi Is Addressing The Mental Health Treatment Gap: Therapy For Fans

Lewis Capaldi: a brief career overview

Lewis Capaldi is a Scottish singer/songwriter whose life began in Glasgow, Scotland in 1996. He showed a talent for music early on, giving performances around Scotland growing up. He eventually started writing and sharing his songs on SoundCloud, going on to earn a Higher National Diploma in music as well.

Capald’s rise to fame

Capaldi was discovered by a US agent at age 18 and became a well-known musician worldwide after he released his first official song. He’s played dozens of music festivals and has opened for, toured with, or collaborated with more than one well-known artist, including The Killers, Milky Chance, Ed Sheeran, Jessie Reyez, and Sam Smith. 

He’s earned many accolades for his music, from receiving a Brit Award for Song of the Year to having the longest-running top 10 UK single of all time by a British artist. He’s also known for speaking out about mental health, which began with an episode he had on stage in June 2023.

The Glastonbury panic attack and mental health episode

In the summer of 2023, Lewis Capaldi played a gig at the Glastonbury Festival in England. As BBC Entertainment reports, “the show was supposed to be a comeback” after Capaldi had taken a few weeks off to rest. His time on stage was cut short, however, as he had trouble singing due to persistent tics from his Tourette syndrome as well as high levels of anxiety. 

While the crowd at the Glastonbury set was supportive and sang every word of the song to fill in the moments when Capaldi was silent, the singer was unable to finish the performance. Later, Capaldi recalled that he was experiencing "horrible" symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks at the time. This mental episode—along with one days before in Chicago, where he reported being backstage “convulsing” in a panic attack—helped him understand that he needed a break immediately. This turn of events led him to take two years off to go to therapy and explore medication for his mental health.

A break from music: putting health first

After he had to cut his Glastonbury set short due to mental health symptoms in 2023, Lewis Capaldi was forced by the circumstances to slow down, take a break from performing, and get some rest. For the next two years, he decided to focus on his well-being and receive professional support for his mental wellness. He made his return to the stage in June of 2025 in an emotional comeback moment. First, he let fans know why he had taken this two-year break from music, and then he thanked them for helping him get through these challenges.

Tourette syndrome, anxiety, and therapy

Since his difficulties at Glastonbury in 2023, Lewis Capaldi has opened up about his mental health and the importance of receiving professional care. He talks about how he has attended therapy to work through anxiety and get support in managing his Tourette syndrome symptoms (a neurological disorder that causes involuntary sounds and movements), both of which made performing difficult for him in the past. 

Capaldi is now very vocal about both the struggles he’s had to deal with and the importance of working with a therapist to find relief. He notes that therapy isn't a “fix,” but a tool, sharing: “I think I’ll always be an anxious person, [but] it’s about how I respond to anxiety,” revealing the marked improvement he’s noticed throughout his treatment journey. He goes on to say, “I’ve felt the best I’ve felt in a long time through therapy,” and “I don’t think I’ll ever stop going to therapy.”

Reflections on his lowest moments

Since opening up about his mental health after his two years of rest and treatment, the singer has reflected back on his most difficult period. He talks about his challenges at Glastonbury 2023 in an iHeart Radio interview, calling that time “horrible” and “the lowest moment of my life.” He elaborates on when he realized he needed to deal with his concerns and confront things head-on: 

Now that he’s returned to the stage after 734 days of rest, Capaldi shares in the same interview that therapy was able to help him "be a musician again" and supported him in reaching a "much better headspace" for the first time. He’s even said that, “In a weird way, [the episode at Glastonbury 2023 is] probably the best thing that ever happened to me.” This happening pushed him toward getting the mental health care he needed to cultivate the ability to cope with his symptoms before they got worse.

Sharing his journey with fans and the media

Since the end of his 734-day hiatus from performing, Lewis Capaldi has been candid about his mental health challenges with the public. The crowd’s response during his difficult Glastonbury 2023 performance may have been a foundational experience that empowered him to be so open. 

When he was unable to sing due to overwhelming anxiety, his fans took over. They sang every word to the song as the band played on, showing their support even though they may not have understood exactly what was happening. It was a special moment that he reflected on via social media later that same June, writing in an Instagram post: “Thank you to Glastonbury for having me, for singing along when I needed it and for all the amazing messages afterward. It really does mean the world.”

He’s also done interviews about his mental health journey, including with Theo Von, Variety, and Good Morning America, in addition to various UK news outlets. A Netflix documentary was made about the Glastonbury happening and how he’s been since. For the first time, he’s also released songs that speak directly about his mental health challenges and how he has cultivated hope, such as the hit Survive.

How fans can take advantage of free therapy

Capaldi donated 1,000 hours of therapy per day he was on hiatus, amounting to 734,000 hours of free virtual therapy. He aimed to give back to those who showed their support for him, hoping that his influence may help more people seek help when they need it.   

To take advantage of this offer, clients who are new to BetterHelp and sign up with Capaldi’s link can receive one free month of therapy. You do not have to be a fan of Lewis Capaldi to participate in the promotion. Credit card information is required at signup, but you will not be charged unless you do not cancel within a month.

Statistics about mental health therapy

Below are some stats about the use and effectiveness of therapy: 

• As of 2023, almost 40% of adolescents and adults with depression received counseling for their mental health.
• The average person who engages in couples therapy is reported to be better off by the end than 70–80% of individuals not receiving treatment.
• Over 64% of people with severe mental illness worked with a therapist in 2020.

Reducing mental health stigma: Addressing misconceptions

Capaldi hopes to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. Below are some common myths and misconceptions of the mental sort related to therapy, as well as the truths surrounding them.

Myth: Therapy is only for severe mental illness

You don’t need to be showing severe signs of a mental illness or any signs of a mental illness to benefit from therapy. While a therapist can treat symptoms, they can also help people address most situations that may be affecting their emotional well-being—from work stress or relationship conflict to low self-esteem or past trauma.

Myth: Therapists only want money

Therapists tend to enter the field to make a difference in their client’s lives, not just to earn a paycheck. They often care deeply about your progress and your well-being. Many also offer reduced fees to clients with a lower income because they want people to be able to receive the care they need.  

Myth: Therapy isn’t effective 

There’s an extensive body of research suggesting that talk therapy can be effective for reducing symptoms and improving client well-being. For example, a 2021 meta-analysis of over 300 randomized controlled trials indicates that all forms of talk therapy studied “were more efficacious than care-as-usual and waiting list control conditions” for treating a variety of mental health symptoms and challenges. 

A growing body of research also suggests that online therapy tends to be similarly effective or even more effective than in-person care for treating conditions like depression, which shines light on new avenues for mental health support. 

Myth: Mental illness never gets better 

While the prospect of relief may seem impossible when you’re experiencing mental health symptoms, therapy can often make a significant difference. For example, studies suggest that some clients may begin experiencing improvements in symptoms after as few as six sessions of therapy. Therapy can also help individuals learn effective skills to cope with distressing emotions and situations that may arise in the future.

The BetterHelp platform is not intended to provide any information regarding which medication or medical treatment may be appropriate for you. This content provides generalized information that is not specific to any one individual. Do not take any action without consulting a qualified medical professional.

Learning about mental health conditions and treatments

Understanding more about mental health and therapy can be an important part of your journey toward improved well-being. For instance, learning about symptoms of common mental health conditions like anxiety and depression could help you look out for them in yourself or your loved ones, and learning about treatment methods could help you seek support when needed. Similarly, understanding how to build resilience, such as through exercise and quality social connection, could support you in learning new ways to care for your overall well-being.