Over the past decade, Halsey has become a household name in pop music. Known for her distinctive voice and deeply honest lyrics, Halsey is a three-time Billboard Music award winner and Grammy nominee. And like many celebrities, she uses her platform for good. Halsey consistently stands up for what she believes in, advocating for social justice, inclusivity, and awareness about mental health.
That’s a huge reason we’re talking about her today. Halsey (birth name Ashley Frangipane) has had a long and complex health journey, which over the years took a harsh toll on her mentally. She attempted suicide as a teenager and, soon after, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Today, however, she speaks candidly about her experience, her condition, and how she makes the most of it.
Let’s take a stroll through Halsey’s mental health journey below.
Struggling through the Teenage Years
On the outside, Halsey might have looked like your typical misfit teenager – looking to build an identity, cutting off her hair, getting a tattoo, going to shows in the city. But inside, she was constantly struggling as a teen. She recounts being sexually abused as a child and later in her teen years, as well as generally being “bullied and misunderstood.”
When she was 17 years old, she attempted suicide. And directly after that attempt, Halsey was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. She said in an interview with Teen Vogue, “I was an adolescent; I didn’t know what I was doing. Because I was 17, I was still in a children’s ward. Which was terrifying. I was in there with 9-year-olds who had tried to kill themselves.”
It’s an unfortunate reality, but suicide is an increasingly common occurrence in younger populations. In fact, the CDC marks suicide as the second-leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults. Typically, it’s mental health conditions (like depression), as well as instances of bullying, social isolation, trauma, pressure, instability, and substance use that lead a teenager to attempt suicide. Halsey’s story exhibits this.
During her time in the psychiatric hospital, Halsey was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that causes extreme mood swings, consisting of manic or hypermanic episodes and depressive periods. Those facing bipolar disorder will experience alternating episodes of energy and euphoria, followed by sadness and low energy.
Halsey’s Experience with Bipolar Disorder
Halsey’s bipolar episodes swing between manic highs and depressive lows. Her manic episodes tend to last for extended stretches of time, in which she experiences an increase in creativity and energy. In fact, it was during a manic period that she wrote Manic, her 2020 album.
But this is not to glamorize bipolar disorder. Halsey also describes mania as impulsive and dangerous: “[Mania is] that thing in the back of our minds that drives us to outrageous thoughts. Like when you’re driving a car and you’re like [she mimes suddenly cutting over the wheel], or you’re on top of a building, and you’re like, ‘What if I just jump?’ … You are controlled by those impulses rather than logic and reason.”
Her Manic album is meant to educate listeners about bipolar disorder.
For some time, Halsey avoided medication for her disorder, worried that it might hinder her creativity. However, she decided to try it in 2020 during COVID-19 lockdowns. “It has changed my life,” she told Time Magazine.
Halsey has learned to take control of bipolar disorder, as much as possible. In addition to medication management, Halsey turns to treatment whenever she feels manic depressive episodes coming on. “It’s been my choice,” she told Rolling Stone. “I’ve said to [my manager], ‘Hey, I’m not going to do anything bad right now, but I’m getting to the point where I’m scared that I might, so I need to go figure this out.’ It’s still happening in my body. I just know when to get in front of it.”
What Else Has Contributed to Halsey’s Mental Health Struggles?
Unfortunately, bipolar disorder isn’t Halsey’s only diagnosis. In 2016, she was diagnosed with endometriosis, and still experiences challenges with that condition to this day. In 2022, she was also diagnosed with Lupus—a chronic autoimmune disease—and a rare T-cell disorder. While both conditions are being managed or in remission, she’s said, they will likely affect her for the rest of her life.
That same year, Halsey opened up about struggles with multiple other conditions, including PoTS, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Sjögren’s syndrome, and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. She told her Instagram followers, “I’m lucky to be alive.”
Research has found a connection between chronic medical conditions and mental health disorders. While Halsey’s bipolar disorder diagnosis came before her other health conditions, it’s entirely possible that her ongoing suffering has contributed to worsened bipolar symptoms.
Where is Halsey Now?
Despite her struggles, including diagnoses in recent years, Halsey recently reported that she’s feeling much better and managing her conditions well. Fans also report that she looks healthier than ever. Currently, she’s on an international Back to Badlands Tour, celebrating the 10th anniversary of her debut album. The tour concludes in February 2026.
Are you or someone you love struggling with mental health symptoms? Halsey is just one example of celebrities struggling, showing that mental illness can affect anyone, of any background. If you are in need of help or mental health support, please do not hesitate to reach out to Turnbridge.