DJ and Producer Benga has spoken out about the mental health issues that last year led him to announce his retirement from both DJing and production.

In a series of tweets earlier today, the Croydon producer revealed that he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia which led him to quit music early last year. “I might as well explain it on here. My bipolar was brought on by drugs and the schizophrenia was the result of excessive touring,” he said. “If I had help early the damage could have been controlled.

He also wrote about the stigma attached to such issues, saying “If you know someone that suffers from mental health issues you’ll understand how alone you feel until it’s recognised. Many people suffer.

“The stigma around it is what makes you so alone… Nobody recognises it”. Asked about how he realised the extent of his illness, Benga said: “I didn’t, I got sectioned and when the drugs hit me I started to think about some of the things I had done.” Benga is now working on new music. You can read his timeline for his full account on the issue here. You can also reach out to MIND here if you are experiencing mental health issues.