Hayley Williams bares struggle with depression

Hayley Williams of Paramore

If you feel darkness, I hope you will wait for joy. It will come again, and it’s worth it.”

Thus said Paramore lead vocalist Hayley Williams, who recently opened up about her struggles with depression, in light of the recent World Suicide Prevention Day.

There was a point in her life, she admitted, where her mind was “dark and hopeless;” where being “cynical” somehow made her feel safe. And while the 29-year-old singer has been taking steps to be healthier, she admitted that it wasn’t always easy.

“It’s a lifestyle shift. Sometimes, it feels uncomfortable and I don’t always do it well,” she wrote. “But I hope that, if you struggle with darkness, you will try and remember to let yourself feel joy when it comes.”

Hayley, an advocate for mental health awareness, also emphasized the importance of “recognizing joy when I feel it or see it in my friends.” —ALLAN POLICARPIO