**Lulu Shares Emotional Journey Behind New Memoir and Launches Mental Health Trust**
Scottish music legend Lulu has revealed the emotional toll involved in writing her new memoir, admitting the experience was so overwhelming that she sought therapy to process the she unearthed. Speaking candidly ahead of a charity walk in support of her newly established fund, Lulu’s Mental Health Trust, the singer underlined the importance of seeking support for mental wellbeing.
Now aged 76, Lulu reflected on a life in the constant glare of the public eye—a career stretching over six decades. As she finished writing her autobiography, titled *If Only You Knew*, the star confessed that revisiting her most personal stories became a deeply “intense” process. “I’ve just finished writing my memoir … and it’s been fairly intense, because I am 76 and being in the public eye, there’s a lot of things I have not divulged,” she told the PA news agency.
Throughout her career, from her chart-topping hit ‘Shout’ at the age of 15 to her sell-out tours, Lulu—born Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie—has kept many experiences private. This time, she decided to break her silence on many matters she once found too difficult to discuss. “I’ve had trials, I’ve had tribulations, I’ve had issues,” she said, noting how the process has been “very cathartic” but also challenging to her mental health.
Lulu acknowledged that the book isn’t just a personal account—it’s also an effort to help those who might be experiencing similar struggles but feel isolated. “There are things you don’t know, and I’m going to talk about them … it’s really in order to help. It is in order to maybe help someone else who’s had a similar issue and they haven’t dealt with it, or don’t know how to,” she explained.
She was open about feelings of loneliness and secrecy that have shaped her inner life, attributing much of it to the generation she was raised in. “My mother’s era was all about keeping things secret and keeping it to myself. I felt very alone in my head all my life,” Lulu admitted. “Today, things are more open, and if sharing can help someone relate, they don’t feel so alone.”
Part of Lulu’s motivation in writing this memoir was to create a lasting legacy for her grandchildren. Given her age, she remarked wryly, “I’m 76, I might not last much longer … it’s all documented.” For Lulu, the act of writing was not just therapeutic, but a testament to her journey—one she hopes will benefit future generations.
Revealing the impact the memoir had on her personally, Lulu spoke about the overwhelming emotions that resurfaced. “In fact, I had to go into therapy because it’s been so intense. When you’ve kept stuff down, those emotions lodge in you somewhere,” she shared, highlighting the interconnectedness between emotional burden and physical health.
The singer’s commitment to mental health extends beyond her own experience. Launching Lulu’s Mental Health Trust, she aims to support others facing similar challenges. On Monday, she undertook a sponsored walk that began at the East London filming location of her iconic role in *To Sir, With Love*, and concluded at the famed Decca Studios, where she recorded her breakthrough hit. The event has already raised more than £15,000 for the trust.
Lulu’s career has enjoyed a recent resurgence, with a standout performance at Glastonbury Festival last year and her Champagne for Lulu tour. Despite declaring it her last, she shows no signs of slowing down. In support of her memoir, scheduled for publication on 25 September 2025, she will embark on a nationwide book tour just days after its release.
As public conversations around mental health continue to grow, Lulu’s openness offers a timely reminder of the value of sharing personal stories—not just for oneself, but for the support and inspiration it can provide to others.