RuthAnne On Endometriosis & Being A Mental Health Advocate

Singer-songwriter RuthAnne has always been an advocate for mental health awareness, making her an ideal ambassador for Darkness into Light.

She tells us that the role is deeply meaningful to her, ”It means a lot especially having dealt with a lot of mental health in my life and losing loved ones to suicide.” 

This year, she hopes to encourage others to prioritise their mental health and remind them that reaching out for help is always an option. For herself, she stays grounded by channeling her inner creativity. 

RuthAnne’s musical journey started at the age of 7 when she was entered into the Jacobs/2FM Song Contest, an experience that helped set the foundation for her career.

Winning the competition came with valuable resources, including professional equipment, which gave her the confidence to pursue songwriting and performance seriously. From there, her career grew, leading to opportunities to write for major artists and eventually establish herself as a solo artist.

Her latest song, ‘The Way I’m Wired,’ stems from a deeply personal experience. Originally scheduled to collaborate with another artist, she unfortunately had to step back due to an endometriosis flare-up, which led her to channel her emotions into songwriting instead.

“During an awful flare-up I thought ‘this is it’ and so I started writing the song,” she says. 

 

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RuthAnne released the track during Endometriosis Awareness Month to shed light on the condition. She hopes the song can resonate with young people and their mothers, particularly those juggling the symptoms and other aspects of life, such as school.

Having written for international stars like Britney Spears and JoJo, RuthAnne has a unique perspective on the songwriting process. She sees writing for other artists as a way to help them tell their own stories.

“It almost feels like I’m in a therapy session with them,” she says. In contrast, when she writes for herself, it’s a deeply personal and cathartic process, an opportunity to share her own emotions and experiences.

A strong supporter of Irish musicians, RuthAnne acknowledges that while the industry has made progress, there’s still a long way to go.

Many Irish artists feel the need to leave the country to build their careers, whereas in other countries, artists are embraced and supported on a national level. “Musicians, for example Lewis Capaldi, embrace being from Scotland,” she says.

 

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Naturally, she believes more could be done to foster homegrown talent and create an environment where musicians can thrive in Ireland.

Looking back on her career, there have been several pinch me moments, but being Grammy nominated remains one of the most surreal experiences. Yet, for RuthAnne, one of the greatest privileges is simply “waking up a musician everyday”-  a reminder of how far she has come. 

She has also been inspired by many of the artists she has collaborated with, particularly Niall Horan, admiring how he creates music that stays true to his artistic vision rather than conforming to industry expectations.

With a passion for mental health advocacy, a commitment to raising awareness about endometriosis, and an ever-evolving career in music, RuthAnne continues to use her platform to make a meaningful impact, within the industry and beyond.

Darkness Into Light will take place on Saturday, 10 May, 2025. You can find out more here.

Words by Emilia Cercel