The gospel artist Kirk Franklin has opened up about his struggle with depression and anxiety on social media after a number of deaths in his life affected his mental health. 

The American singer, 49, is most famous for leading gospel choirs and has won 12 Grammy Awards. 

Franklin said in an Instagram video that in 2019: "I experienced a high amount of loss in my life. I went to more funerals in 2019 than I've ever been to in my life. I went to the funerals of friends, the funerals of people's parents and funerals of people's kids.

"I really struggled with a lot of anxiety and I really got into a funk that I couldn't really get out of - this really dark funk that I was in - of depression," he said that he felt overwhelmed by "the angst that death can bring to you" as well as "anxiety about the future."

He explained how he usually speaks to his pastor, Dr Tony Evans, but that he wanted to respect the fact Evans was dealing with his own loss. Dr Evans' wife Lois died at the end of 2019. 

Franklin says he spoke to his Christian therapist and told him he was feeling anxious and consumed with feeling unworthy. 

He describes how his therapist helped by encouraging him to have an outlook of gratitude and to know God's love for him.

Franklin told his Instagram followers: "fear is rooted in self". 

Speaking from the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean, he said: "I'm here in a part of the world where I'm seeing seven and eight and nine people sleeping in one bed with no electricity, no windows. I'm seeing kids that are having to be careful because of the sex trafficking. 

"Things can be worse... give God thanks for what he has already done."

He encouraged the viewer to do what his therapist told him and acknowledge the fact that their life is a miracle and that God has sustained them so far. 

"Have a strong year, God has not forgotten you," he added.