(Screenshot courtesy of YouTube)

Olly Alexander, frontman for British indie-electro band Years & Years, says being gay in a straight world hurt his mental health.

In an interview with Owen Jones for The Guardian, Alexander, 25, spoke about how he struggled with his sexuality and mental health growing up.

“I was about 14 when I really fell in love with my best friend, and was obsessed with him. He was straight. I feel that’s a really classic story for gay men!” Alexander says. “Up until I was 17 I wanted to be straight – I kept thinking ‘I’m straight, I’m straight, I’m straight, maybe I’m bisexual’… please let me not be gay. I’ve got enough to deal with.”

Alexander continued that being gay but wanting to be straight had a negative impact on him mentally.

“I think [sexuality and mental health] are connected,” Alexander says. “Growing up in a straight world is difficult.”

“Once you admit to yourself and the world that you’re gay, there’s an expectation that you put on yourself: you’re fine now, you’ve gone through the whole thing of being gay, and now you have to prove to yourself that you can live a happy life and be happy,” Alexander says.

“The first thing you start to think is you’re alone and you’re crazy. There is a support network out there … make use of it,” Alexander concluded.