Paris Jackson has revealed she underwent electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as part of her efforts to manage declining mental health. The 28-year-old musician spoke about her experience on Jay Shetty's "On Purpose" podcast, sharing that she pursued ECT after trying a variety of medications and seeking help at five different institutions.
Jackson described feeling as though she had exhausted other options before turning to ECT, a treatment that uses brief electrical currents to induce a seizure in the brain under general anesthesia. She recalled her psychiatrist reassuring her that the procedure is less invasive than it once was, with patients being unconscious during the treatment. Jackson underwent the procedure nine times over three weeks.
"You go in, you got your hospital gown, they knock you out, strap you down, put a bite guard on your mouth, electrocute you," Jackson recounted. She noted that ECT is believed to help with neuroplasticity and is considered a leading treatment for depression. The first few sessions were accompanied by pain as medical staff adjusted her pain medication.
Jackson emphasized her commitment to sobriety throughout her treatment. She described the pain during the procedure as the "most sharp" she had ever experienced inside her head, comparing it to the soreness from being electrocuted. Side effects included memory loss, with Jackson noting she had no recollection of friends who visited her post-procedure, despite having evidence of their visits.
While ECT proved effective, Jackson ultimately decided to stop treatment after learning it might require ongoing monthly sessions or continued use of medications. "I'm like, that's not going to f**king work for me," she stated.
Currently, Jackson approaches her mental health by integrating various tools and techniques she has learned. She has also taken a break from therapy but is working with a behavior specialist to address obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Jackson clarified that her decision to pursue ECT followed a period where she felt she was "very, very close" to a suicide attempt, having tried numerous therapies including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), somatic therapy, and experiential therapy.
The experience with ECT even inspired the cover art for her upcoming album, "Happiest Day Of My Life," which is scheduled for release on August 21.
According to the Mayo Clinic, ECT is performed under general anesthesia, where controlled electrical currents pass through the brain to cause a brief seizure. The clinic states that ECT can alter brain chemistry and quickly improve symptoms of certain mental health conditions. Much of the stigma surrounding ECT is attributed to earlier treatments that involved high doses of electricity without anesthesia, leading to more severe side effects.
Jackson has previously been open about her struggles with depression and past drug abuse. In a 2017 interview with Rolling Stone, she mentioned that some of her tattoos concealed track marks from drug use and scars from self-harm, and that she had attempted suicide multiple times. She credited attending a therapeutic school in Utah with helping her significantly, stating she was "a completely different person" afterward. Jackson marked six years of sobriety in January 2026.