Daniel Cavanagh, guitarist for Anathema, tried to commit suicide. “He IS a reasonably decent human who has been lost in recent years,” says band

A message was published on the social networks of the English band Anathema that gives an account of the mental health problems of their guitarist, Daniel Cavanagh. According to this publication, signed by Weather Systems, Cavanagh’s post-Anathema project, the 49-year-old musician tried to commit suicide – on an unspecified date – and is recovering.

“Unfortunately, for the last two years life has been very hard for one of our band members, Dan. And he tried to commit suicide,” reads Anathema’s Facebook page. “He has been suffering from deep, chronic depression for years. He survived his suicide attempt and is getting better. It is a miracle that he has survived the last two years. For a year he has not left his home, and contrary to popular belief, was hospitalized and never had any contact with the police.”

“Dan is a reasonably decent human being, who seems to have lost his way. He hasn’t been himself for years,” he writes. “A few years ago he checked himself into a hospital of his own free will to avoid the possibility of suicide, but apparently the hospital was even more depressing.”

The musicians also mention that the guitarist wants to improve “as a human being” and is being medically assisted, in order to stop having suicidal thoughts. “He’s very dedicated to the detox healing program. He’s been diagnosed with major depression, chronic anxiety and complex post-traumatic stress disorder. At least four years ago, he hasn’t been himself.”

His companions also recall that “maybe music helps to heal”, wishing their guitarist a speedy recovery. “We don’t know if publishing this was a good idea, but the truth is the truth, and maybe you should know it”, they conclude, in a message also signed by their management.

Daniel Cavanagh founded Anathema in 1990 with his younger brother, vocalist Vincent Cavanagh. The band’s last album, “The Optimist”, came out in 2017. In 2020, Anathema announced an open-ended break due to the pandemic. The Facebook message is signed by Weather Systems, a project that Daniel Cavanagh created after that announcement.