Sara Bareilles says 2021 was ‘a very low year’ for her mental health

Sara Bareilles has revealed that 2021 was “a very low year” for her mental health.

The 42-year-old singer-songwriter, who composed the music and lyrics for West End musical Waitress and is best known for chart hits including Brave and Love Song, reflected on last year in a New Year’s message on Instagram and said she has been assisted by medication.

She said: “It has been a very low year for me with regard to my mental health and I am also grateful that part of the reason I can touch my joy again is I finally got the help of some medication.

“It’s been a journey to try and pull up, and I found this year I needed more help. It is helping. I am relieved and feel more like myself – and I will find my way again and now it feels possible.

In 2021, Bareilles went back into acting by joining the cast of sitcom Girls5Eva, a comedy which follows a former girl group who try to get back into the spotlight.

In June of 2021, she told People: “I have to be in front of the camera again and have to get dressed and get hair done…

“It brings up a lot of stuff for me. I have been someone who’s struggled with body image issues my whole life and I’ve struggled with feelings of being self-conscious as I’ve gotten older…

“Ultimately, whether one pair of jeans fits or not, I can still enjoy the world and the people I love … There’s so much to celebrate, so I try to be gentle.”

Her Instagram post also mentioned that she took a trip to Finland, where “Northern Lights graced our final night and we chased them on snowmobiles and yelped with delight as they rippled upwards and across the universe”.