It makes sense, then, that globally rising Britrock star Sam Fender should grace the cover of our issue this fortnight. As an artist, Sam has been at the forefront of a new generation of artists who are tackling the stigma of mental health head-on.

Having talked at length with the singer on various occasions during his rise to the top, Hot Press sits down with Sam Fender once again, for a unique interview which covers everything from the suicide pandemic in North Shields, to the pervasive influence of drugs in his hometown, to the music that inspires him and helps him cope.

We also publish our full mental health supplement – titled ‘Now We’re Talking’ – in this fortnight’s issue. For this massive, 35-page supplement, we asked musicians, writers, artists and sports figures to help us break the stigma surrounding mental health by sharing their experiences of dealing with it. Everyone from Lewis Capaldi, Dermot Kennedy, Jessie Buckley, Alan O’Mara, Kodaline, Billie Eilish, The Murder Capital, and dozens of other prominent figures responded, giving us deep, poignant words about how mental health has affected them, and how important it is to simply talk.

That’s not all. We have an exclusive interview with Pieta House CEO Elaine Austin, who gives us an in-depth look at how the charity’s services work, how people can access them, and what new initiatives they’re undertaking to help those in need. We also provide an overview of the wide range of services out there for anyone who is in distress or despair.

To add to all that, the response to our requests from people to talk about their mental health was so overwhelming, that we’ve published unique features by people from all walks of life. Well-known Instagrammer and influencer Jess Brennan talks about the pressures that come with being constantly in the public high and having a social media persona, Keywest frontman Andrew Kavanagh talks to us about his own mental health journey, Dublin rappers Hare Squead talk about how one of their members had to step away from the music to confront his struggles with mental health, while former drug smuggler-turned-artist Brian O’Rourke pens a moving piece about maintaining your mental health while confined to prison…

Hot Press’ mental health campaign ‘Now We’re Talking’, with our partners Pieta House and Lyons Tea, will culminate in a live event on World Mental Health Day, October 10, at Smock Alley Theatre. ‘Now We’re Talking Live – An Evening of Live Music & Discussion on Mental Health’ will feature performances from Delorentos, Saint Sister, Stephen James Smith, and Emma Quinn, as well as our panel discussions. To apply for tickets just go to hotpress.com/now-were-talking

The new Hot Press, featuring Sam Fender on the cover, will be in stores from September 26. Or you can order it online here: