Cage The Elephant's Matt Shultz opens up about 'mental health crisis'

Opening up about his recent mental health struggles, Cage The Elephant lead singer, Matt Shultz , took to Instagram to share that leading up to his 2023 arrest for possession of two loaded guns, he was suffering from a “mental health crisis.”

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In January 2023, after police found Shultz ’s guns inside of his room at the Bowery Hotel in Lower Manhattan, the singer was charged with criminal possession of firearms. Pleading guilty to three charges, including attempted criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, and criminal possession of a weapon, Shultz was able to avoid jail time.

“It’s a miracle that I’m here today,” Shultz started his statement. “I was arrested last year, and it undoubtedly saved my life. After my arrest, I went to the hospital for two months followed by months of outpatient treatment. I can finally explain what happened.”

Matt’s post, comprised of three text filled slides on IG, and captioned "Love, Matt," went on to say — “Over the last three years, I was unknowingly fighting my way through an utter mental health crisis. In a short time, I had slipped into psychosis due to an iatrogenic response to a medication I was prescribed. It took the love and support of my brothers in the band, my community, and, most of all, my wife Eva to get me through it. Eva stayed by my side, and she saved my life countless times. To say she is a warrior and a queen is an understatement.”

On the third slide, Matt continued to thank his wife, Eva Ross , for her “unwavering love,” which “coupled with professional treatment helped me to regain my grip on reality and fully recover.”

Reflecting on his journey, Shultz said, “Along the way, I learned a lot of hard lessons, and I thank God I was able to come out on the other side. I’m humbled and grateful for the opportunity to write this message. I owe my life to God and the support system of friends, family, and Cage The Elephant. I’ll just say it now once again, because it needs to be said, ‘Thank you.’”

Check out the post below.

Audacy's I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 988. Find a full list of additional resources here .