Sam Fender: Giving Mental Health a Voice Through Music

Content Warning: Content Warning: Discusses suicide, depression, and mental health.

In an era where conversations about mental health are finally beginning to break through cultural barriers, few artists have brought the topic into mainstream music with as much impact as Sam Fender. Through his music, he confronts often-taboo subjects of struggle, vulnerability, and emotional pain, creating a space where listeners feel seen, heard, and understood. His songs don’t just entertain—they resonate, offering moments of reflection, solace, and connection for anyone grappling with their own inner battles.

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Looking back at some of Sam’s earlier work, ‘Dead Boys’, from his debut album, ‘Hypersonic Missiles’, was written after Fender lost a close friend to suicide. The song addresses the issue of male suicide and toxic masculinity while simultaneously reflecting on the emotional toll of grief and the way societal expectations can prevent men from reaching out for help.

Fender has been extremely vocal about the damaging impact of toxic masculinity. In an interview with NME, he explained:

“I genuinely think it’s toxic masculinity and the idea of what a man is supposed to be. This really archaic, out-of-date idea of how a man is supposed to conduct himself. I think that’s what kills men, genuinely.”

“We close our eyes, learn our pain / Nobody ever could explain / All the dead boys in our hometown.”

The impact of Dead Boys extends beyond music. Fender revealed that a fan, moved by the song’s message, reached out to him, expressing that it had deterred him from taking his own life.

In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, Sam recalled a listener’s story. A man who had been planning to end his life tuned in to the broadcast, heard Fender discussing Dead Boys, and later contacted him to say it had stopped him from going through with it.

“There was a bloke who was going to kill himself, but he listened to Five Live and turned the car around. He was listening to the interview with me and Nihal and he got in contact afterwards,” Sam told NME. “He’d heard me performing Dead Boys and chatting about the song and mental health and not being able to open up about our feelings.”

After hearing the conversation, the man pulled over, sat on the side of the road for three hours crying, then went home and told his wife what he had been planning. From there, he was able to get help. Sam later met the man in person.

“I met him and we had a big chat together. I had no idea what I was going to say to him because I don’t have any answers or any resolution for him,” Fender said. “It felt very genuine and I was fucking humbled. This is beyond anything I’d ever prepared for, but it’s wonderful. Music is a powerful thing that affects people’s lives and I’m fucking humbled to be a part of it.”

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One of Fender’s most personal songs, ‘The Dying Light’ from his second album ‘Seventeen Going Under,’ captures the struggle of battling suicidal thoughts.

The lyric “But I’m alone here, even though I’m physically not” highlights the deep isolation that comes with depression. You can be in a crowded room and still feel completely disconnected, as though no one truly understands what’s happening inside your head.

The song unfolds from the perspective of someone contemplating suicide, but gradually finding the strength to keep fighting—not only for themselves, but for their loved ones and for those who didn’t make it.

“But I’m damned if I give up tonight / I must repel the dying light / For Mam and Dad and all my pals / For all the ones who didn’t make the night.”

This track has resonated deeply with fans, many of whom have shared stories of how it helped them “repel the dying light” and feel less alone in their struggles.

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A recurring image in Fender’s songwriting is “the black dog,” a stark metaphor for depression and mental illness. In Alright, he describes it as an ever-present shadow: “the dog tails you like a hound.” It lingers relentlessly, a haunting reminder of the silent weight many are forced to carry.

In ‘Dead Boys’, he writes: “We all tussle with the black dog, some out loud, some in silence,” capturing how mental health struggles affect people differently—some openly, others silently. Meanwhile, ‘Something Heavy’ uses the metaphor in a mournful tone: “So many good people fallen victim to the dog,” a reminder of the devastating consequences of untreated mental health battles.

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Through his music, Sam Fender has become a voice for those who feel unheard or unable to speak about their struggles. By writing boldly about mental health, he creates songs that don’t just resonate—they intervene. ‘Dead Boys’ turned grief into dialogue, while ‘The Dying Light’ transformed despair into hope. For countless listeners, these songs are more than art—they are lifelines. They prove that vulnerability can be strength, and that no one has to face the darkness alone.

Suicide is the biggest killer of people under the age of 35 and the leading cause of death for men under 50. It is also the leading cause of death for 10–19-year-olds in the UK. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please reach out. You are not alone.

Helplines (UK):

• Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): Call 0800 58 58 58 (5pm–midnight) or visit thecalmzone.net.

• Samaritans: Call 116 123 (free) or email jo@samaritans.org.

• Shout: Text SHOUT to 85258.

• National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK: Call 0800 689 5652.

• Papyrus HOPELINEUK: Call 0800 068 4141, text 07786 209 697, or email pat@papyrus-uk.org.

• Mind Support Line: Call 0300 102 1234 (Mon–Fri 9am–6pm).

  
  

Written by Darcy Troup for Ceol Magazine!