Katie Melua has candidly opened up about suffering an acute psychotic breakdown as she prepares to perform again. The songstress, 40, admitted she had feared for her music career after her mental health struggles in her twenties. She spent six weeks in hospital in 2010 and was forced to take a break from her music career.
However, the star who has released nine albums has revealed she is in a good place and is hoping to de-stigmatise the thoughts around mental health issues by speaking out about her past struggles. Speaking openly to the Mirror, the Closest Thing to Crazy singer explained how she felt at the time of her breakdown. She said: “At the time, it was like, you know, and this is gonna sound a bit cartoonish, but it felt like living through an apocalypse. Actually living through an apocalypse.
“I had no mental health history before that, and none in my family that I knew of, so I didn’t really know what was going on, and my perception of the world around me had flipped completely upside down.”
She revealed how, at the time, while she didn’t hallucinate, she had the feeling she was “about to get killed”. “It was acute paranoia,” she said. “[It felt like] My loved ones are about to get killed, like it was that level of psychosis. And it was kind of like dying, and then when I got better, it was like having a chance at a second life. I can’t even describe how bad it was. To come back from something like that was the most astonishing and inspiring and sort of life giving thing. I’m very grateful for being given that perspective.”
Explaining what it felt like when her breakdown initially came on, she said it came at a time she had been struggling with being on the road all the time. Katie also said the pressures surrounding her work didn’t help. “The diary was insane,” she said. “There was a crazy amount of travel.
“I was probably showing signs of being stressed out and a little bit worn out. And then I guess I think what ultimately triggered it was a few events that happened.” Katie revealed she had a close pal’s friend die by suicide. She also felt like she had to stop the therapy sessions she had been taking part in for around a year. Katie said she stopped because “the therapy was mixed with hypnotherapy and I kind of became quite addicted to it”. The musician continued: “And also in the years leading up to it, I had kind of become a bit distant from my family because I was just so busy with work. I’d also grown up in a very sort of loving family, and big family, because we’re Georgians.
“It was a combination of all of those things that kind of collided. And then one summer, it was just too much. And then actually the other trigger, which was a really important one, was about three sleepless nights. So yeah, suddenly not being able to sleep, being very sort of highly strong and highly wired.”
Katie went on to reveal suffering moments of deep paranoia, saying she couldn’t stop thoughts from spiralling out of control. “And then, and then I’d sort of calm myself down, and I’d sort of act normal, and then something else would make me think… [would trigger an episode].”
The mum-of-one admitted one of the biggest things in her life was to start a family. In 2022, Katie welcomed her son, Sandro. She explained another big factor in her mental health improving was being able to “de-ego” herself. “I guess I got worked out about work stresses, because I was just taking everything too seriously. Now, I’m just allowing my sensitivity to sort of really consume me.
“So since then, it just really put everything in perspective. Because I just thought, actually, damn, the most important thing is my health and just being able to string a sentence together and being able to walk and talk. Those are the priorities.
“So the career kind of went down the ladder in terms of all consuming….Ultimately, after a few years, the record that really helped me to heal was In Winter, which was made with the Gori Women’s Choir out in Georgia. It was the first record I co-produced and so that really helped me heal. And then I just, I don’t know, I felt ready to start a family, and it’s just glorious to still be working. You know, taking a great band out on the road and bringing these songs live to the stage is just sensational.”
She admitted feeling scared and grateful after her recovery and says it’s crucial people who are struggling know it’s okay to talk about their issues. “After I recovered from it, because I had no knowledge of it, I was really scared of the fact that I’d been through that while, at the same time grateful to be alive again. So I do think it’s important to talk about it. I survived it, you know, touch wood, I’ll never have to experience anything like that, or I’d hate anyone to go through it. It’s really frightening.
“But yeah, I think if you’re lucky to survive it, we’ve got to be open about it. I think trying to give advice is difficult, but one of the treatments for mental health is talking about it, and it’s good to be open about it, acknowledge your fears and your concerns.”
Katie, who is currently getting ready to perform across Europe, was speaking to the Mirror ahead of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2025, which being held between from 30 April – 5 May 2025. She is being joined by a stellar line-up, which also includes the likes of Lulu, Macy Gray and Corinne Bailey Rae.
Speaking of the event, in which Katie first took part in in 2019, she said she was “drawn to it”. “Cheltenham has a heritage,” Katie gushed. “I know also, Jazz at the moment in the UK has had such an amazing sort of revival.”
She added:” It’s exciting to be part of it. It’s nice that Cheltenham is also being with the times, and, you know, having this amazing lineup.”
*If you are struggling with mental health, you can speak to a trained advisor from Mind mental health charity on 0300 123 3393 or email info@mind.org.uk
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