Passion Pit announces musical hiatus so frontman can cope with mental illness

Passion Pit's frontman, Michael Angelakos, has never been shy about discussing mental health.

On Sunday night the 30-year-old artist — who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 17 — shared a powerful message for fans, announcing in a series of tweets that Passion Pit would be taking a musical hiatus as he focuses on his mental health.

"Until it is safer and healthier for us to be advocates, to be writers, producers, and performers, I simply cannot continue making music," the musician wrote.

"You’re either committed to it or not. To raise awareness one moment and announce a show the next doesn’t help me. It hurts me. And others."

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Though Angelakos is taking a much-needed break from the musical spotlight, he assured fans that his passion for music remains.

"I love Passion Pit and I love music even more," he said, explaining that he "decided to make solving this issue my priority for now."

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"How many more episodes of behind the music do we need? How many more artists need to die? Sexual harassment lawsuits need to be thrown out?" Angelakos questioned on Twitter.

His comments come less than a week after Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington died by suicide at age 41.

Since Bennington's death, Linkin Park has also spoken out on the topic of mental health, publicly addressing their loss via Facebook and posting suicide-prevention resources for fans on a website dedicated to Bennington.

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Angelakos also reminded his fans that July 20, 2017 marks the fifth anniversary of Gossamer — Passion Pit's second studio album — which "is about and the product of a manic episode" that almost caused Angelakos to lose his life.

Though fans may not be hearing new Passion Pit tracks for a while, the band's latest album, Tremendous Sea of Love, will be available on streaming services later this week. Back in March Angelakos shared the LP free on Twitter to anyone who retweeted neuroscientist Michael F. Wells, but the album's official digital release will take place on July 28.

Earlier this year the Passion Pit singer launched his own company: The Wishart Group. The "Artist Research and Protection Service" is aimed at supporting musicians by providing legal, educational, and healthcare services, as well as a mental health program.

And while describing Tremendous Sea of Love to fans earlier this month, Angelakos shared a letter on Instagram openly explaining the challenges he's faced over the years in regards to maintaining his own mental health.

All proceeds for the album will benefit the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at Broad Institute.

If you want to talk to someone or are experiencing suicidal thoughts, text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Here is a list of international resources.