Harry Styles opens up on mental health and hails therapy that helps him 'feel more alive'

Harry Styles has opened up about his mental health revealing he had to be coaxed into therapy five years ago.

The former One Direction star said doing so had allowed him to "open up rooms" in himself he was unaware existed.

"I thought it meant that you were broken," explained the 28-year old in an interview with Better Homes & Gardens.

"I wanted to be the one who could say I didn't need it.

"I think that accepting living, being happy, hurting in the extremes, that is the most alive you can be. Losing it crying, losing it laughing—there's no way, I don't think, to feel more alive than that."

Harry Styles says therapy has allowed him to "open up rooms" in himself he was unaware existed (Ian West/PA Wire)

Harry Styles pictured performing on stage at the Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival on April 15, 2022 (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Coachella)

The star went on to reveal that during the coronavirus pandemic he finally processed his thoughts and feelings on his former band's split - which occurred in 2016 - six years after they were formed by Simon Cowell on the X-factor.

Hailing his new found freedom from the pop group's contractual obligations, Styles said he burst into tears when he signed a record deal to go it alone.

"In lockdown, I started processing a lot of stuff that happened when I was in the band," he said.

He described the pressure put upon him to remain relatively concealed in order to "to get people to engage with you, to like you."

And Styles, who is rumoured to be dating 26-year old actress Florence Pugh, added that contractual clauses scared him into being on his best behaviour at all times.

He claimed that it was ingrained into the five-piece outfit that in order to be successful, they had to come across well-behaved and likeable.

Harry Styles felt an overwhelming sense of freedom following One Direction's split (Getty Images for Spotify)

The 'Watermelon Sugar' singer embarks on a mammoth world tour in May, taking in venues including Wembley Stadium and Old Trafford, before reaching its conclusion in May 2023 at Auckland's MT Smart Stadium.

The star will also perform ten day residentials at both New York's Madison Square Gardens and Los Angeles' Kia Forum as he showcases the hits from his forthcoming third solo album, 'Harry's House'.

*If you are struggling with mental health, you can speak to a trained advisor from Mind mental health charity on 0300 123 3393 or email info@mind.org.uk