Sinead O'Connor was one of the biggest names in pop music in the '80s and '90s, but recently she's made headlines for struggling with mental illness and drug abuse.

The singer's early life wasn't as glamorous as you might expect. Growing up in Ireland, she and her siblings were physically abused by their parents, and she was sent to an asylum at age 15 after being caught shoplifting.

To make things even worse, O'Connor's mother died in a car crash in 1985, just before her debut album The Lion and the Cobra made her an international celebrity. But since the peak of her career, when her cover of Prince's song "Nothing Compares 2 U" became a worldwide hit, the singer has led a troubled life.

Along with an addiction to prescription drugs, O'Connor has lived with bipolar disorder, PTSD and suicidal thoughts from an early age. She revealed in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that she attempted suicide in 1999, on her 33rd birthday.

After drawing headlines for entering rehab, seeking treatment for her mental health and losing custody of her teenage son Shane, a video released by this singer this week has her fans more concerned than ever.

Find out what O'Connor said on the next page...

In a 12 minute video posted on Facebook, the pop singer bared her soul and shared a tragic glimpse at her life today.

O'Connor revealed that she's living in a Travelodge hotel in New Jersey (she doesn't say exactly where) and says she's been "wandering the world for two years by myself" since losing custody of her son Shane. O'Connor sold her home in Ireland 2 years ago to pay a tax bill and hasn't returned to the country since then.

O'Connor, who has been married 4 times, lost custody of her son after revealing her suicidal thoughts, and threatened Ireland's Child and Family Agency they would have "a dead celebrity on their hands" if he was taken away from her.

While the singer says she's been suicidal for the past 2 years and claims she has "nobody" in her life, she also shares a hopeful message with other people facing the same daily struggle against mental illness as her.

"I hope that this video is somehow helpful," she said. "I know that I'm just one of millions and millions of people in the world that suffer like I do that don't necessarily have the resources that I have."

"I want everyone to know what it's like," she explains, "that's why I'm making this video."

Fans shared supportive messages with O'Connor and urged local authorities to reach out to her, and a post on the singer's Facebook page says she's safe and "surrounded by love."

If you or someone you know is considering suicide you can get help around the clock by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK).

[H/T: Independent]