Stephen Fry says Beethoven's music helped him cope with suicidal depression

Comedian says he took comfort in the work of the classical German composer, who was ‘lit by the flame of mania and danced by the icy water of depression’

Stephen Fry has revealed that he used the music of Beethoven to help cope with his severe depression.

Speaking on the Art of Change: Nothing Concrete podcast, the comedian and TV presenter spoke about being suicidal: “Inside you do not see the point of anything. Nothing has flavour or savour. Nothing has any meaning. Everything is just hopeless.”

“There’s no future,” he continued. ”There’s no sense of anything ahead of you. You have to hope something will stop you. In my case it was just failed [suicide] attempts and waking up in a hospital... It’s in the recovery, it’s when you suddenly find that flavour – suddenly life is colour again.”

Fry has spoken before about his history with depression, which included a suicide attempt in 2012.

The erstwhile QI host credited Ludwig Van Beethoven’s classical music with helping him at the time.

He said: “There is a healing quality to it that helps... when combined with not drinking too much and walking and eating properly and the other things that supposedly help one’s mental health.”

The 62-year-old, who has bipolar disorder, added: “One of the ways I cope with it is to bathe myself in music like Beethoven’s and to think of people who have gone before me who have been lit by the flame of mania and danced by the icy water of depression.”

If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offers support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.