Huntress frontwoman Jill Janus has opened up on her struggles with mental illness and her recent battle with cancer. In an interview with Revolver, she reveals she’s been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder and was recently given new medication to help with that. She said of first being diagnosed:
“I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder first, when I was 20. I started to show signs of it when I was 13, though, and I struggled with it through high school. But it started to get dangerous in my early teens. By the time I was 20 and living in Manhattan, it was very, very difficult for me. That’s when I was admitted into a mental health facility and was diagnosed bipolar with schizoaffective disorder, which progressed into schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder.”
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She also just underwent a hysterectomy after having been diagnosed with stage 1 uterine cancer. Currently recovering at home, she said of her condition:
“I’m grateful to Revolver Magazine for publishing this interview. I was encouraged by my bandmates to take my struggle and weave it into songs on the new album. When I formed Huntress, I was concerned with the stigma surrounding mental illness, especially for women in the music industry. But I’ve accomplished so much in just a few years. Writing one record a year, touring relentlessly and attempting to maintain my sanity has been, at times, very painful for myself and those close to me. Yet I’ve proven anything is possible if you truly believe in yourself. Speaking out about my mental illness and cancer diagnosis has given me a chance to encourage others to live for their purpose and not be held back by their illness. The vultures can wait.”
Huntress currently have a new album titled “Static” slated for a September 25th release date through Napalm. For more on Janus‘ issues, head to Revolver.
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