Northern Ireland

Ed Sheeran joins Foy Vance in music video to raise mental health awareness

Bangor-born singer Foy Vance
Bangor-born singer Foy Vance Bangor-born singer Foy Vance

Bangor-born musician Foy Vance has joined Ed Sheeran and Dublin singer Damien Dempsey in a new music video to promote positive mental health.

The video by Birmingham hip-hop artist T8PES for his song 'I Feel Good' features people from across Ireland and Britain.

The artist is promoting the video for World Mental Health Day, which is marked on October 10 every year.

The singer made the video following his own recovery from an addiction to hard drugs, homelessness and a suicide attempt.

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The musician, whose real name is Jimmy Davis, said he was affected by his parents' separation when he was five.

By the age of 18 he was addicted to drugs including heroin and crack cocaine.

He later managed to recover thanks to an addiction charity.

"Nowadays I pay close attention to my mental health and with any youth work I do I'm always trying to encourage young people to take it seriously," he said.

"What works for me is meditation, walks in nature, finding people I can confide in and being open and honest with them, practising gratitude, helping others, daily exercise and yoga, and really watching what I put into my body."