Shawn Mendes wants to encourage men to speak out about mental health. The ‘In My Blood’ hitmaker has been vocal about his anxiety battles and hopes talking out about it will help other people do the same.

He told NME: “It’s all about honesty, man. It’s something that I’ve always been paying attention to with other artists. It’s why I love Ed [Sheeran] so much and why I love [John] Mayer so much. I think I’ll only continue to be more and more honest as I get older … I think it’s just the start of it. You have to start somewhere, and start the conversation about ‘This is how I feel, take it or leave it’. That’s life.”

Meanwhile, Shawn previously revealed he has been having secret therapy sessions to help with his anxiety. He confessed: “I spoke to a therapist a couple of times. Therapy is what works for you … climbing a mountain. Therapy is listening to music and running on the treadmill, therapy is going to dinner with your friends – it’s something that distracts you, that helps you heal and so it just depends on what you think therapy is. I made a conscious effort to be more connected to the people in my life.

“I found I was closing myself off from everybody, thinking that would help me battle it … then realising the only way I was going to battle it was completely opening up and letting people in. What I have to do now is be very honest with myself and honest about what I’m talking about. Make something as serious as anxiety tangible where everybody can listen to it and either connect with it or understand it.”