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Avicii’s father: “We are setting up the foundation to focus preventative work for suicide”

Klas Bergling spoke out during an emotional interview with Pete Tong at IMS... 

Avicii's father, Klas Bergling, has spoken out about mental health and suicide in a panel discussion at this year's International Music Summit in Ibiza. 

Following the tragic loss of the producer in 2018, real name Tim Bergling, the Tim Bergling Foundation has been established in his honour, initially focussing on helping people who are struggling with mental illness, but with a view to expanding into other issues that were close to the best-selling artist's heart. 

In conversation with legendary Radio 1 presenter Pete Tong, Klas shared the ethics and philosophy guiding this tributary undertaking, and the major problems impacting many people involved in the music industry. 

“We are setting up the foundation to focus preventative work for mental illness and suicide, we are also looking at threatened animals and nature which was Tim’s passion as well as climate," he said. 

"It’s not many jobs that you can drink while you work, or you’re allowed to. If you start drinking at your job, your manager is supposed to take care of you quickly," he continued. 

"Life as a DJ and travels where you don’t get any rest between, you travel a lot you sleep less. The pressure is great depending on the individual, some people handle it perfectly, others don’t."

Following the interview, Klas went on to join the Mental Health Crisis Debate. Professor Green, Luciano and Sasha were also involved. 

Avicii's posthumous album, 'TIM', will be released next month.

If you're concerned about mental health issues there are a number of places that can help. Samaritans can be reached on 116 123 in the UK. For US, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255. Lifeline offers crisis support in Australia on 13 11 14. Befrienders can signpost to organisations in other countries across the world.