PORTLAND, OR. (THECOUNT) — HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale is speaking out on the death of HUNTRESS singer, Jill Janus. Janus passed away on Tuesday, August 14, and now Hale has called for improved awareness around mental health following the musician’s tragic death.
Earlier today, Hale took to her Instagram page to write: “It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to one of our peers. Jill Janus, has died today.”
Advertisement |
“Jill was very open about her struggles with mental health and addiction. Now, more than ever, spanning across every age group, the suicide rate is extremely high.
“I’d like to take a moment to state again how important it is to talk about mental health, and remind all of you out there battling demons that you are not alone. I have to navigate my own dark labyrinth and I turn to music and writing for my lifeline. I want to encourage you to keep searching for your lifeline, something that makes you happy. It doesn’t matter if no one gets it but you… that’s okay!
“We need to stop trying to live up to expectations that society places in front of us to make us feel unworthy of love, beauty and success. We need to stop comparing ourselves to others. We need to stop trying to be ‘normal.’ And we need to stop being quiet about our mental well-being.
“Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re broken. And if you don’t know how to ask for help, that’s okay too. Those of us who have a shoulder will let you lean on it! We are all in this life together. For those of you with the ability to lend a hand or and ear, DO IT! We have a responsibility to help each other, ‘cuz everything we say, do and touch affects the whole race. We are all connected.
“And I’d also like to address how careful We need to be with prescription medications that doctors and people that we trust give us to try to fix us. Some side effects of these meds rewire your brain, to where even if you wouldn’t normally have suicidal thoughts, your brain actually starts thinking that it is logical… all due to meds. Please be careful, my loves!
“To Jill, my sister of scream, I hope wherever you are, you have found the peace that you couldn’t here.
“My deepest sympathies go out to Jill’s family and her band HUNTRESS during this time.” source
Janus, who was the singer for the California heavy metal band HUNTRESS, passed away on Tuesday, August 14. A longtime sufferer of mental illness, she took her own life outside of Portland, Oregon.
Formed in 2009 in Los Angeles, HUNTRESS released three albums, 2012’s “Spell Eater”, 2013’s “Starbound Beast” and 2015’s “Static”, and took part in the 2016 edition of Ozzfest.