Liam Payne‘s former psychiatrist reportedly advised him to seek a “higher level of care” than she was able to offer.
In a letter filed in an Argentina court, the psychiatrist told Payne in September — weeks before his death — that she had decided to stop treating him “after careful consideration and assessment,” TMZ reported on Monday, December 30.
According to the outlet, she urged the One Direction singer to continue regular therapy sessions to “process [his] depression and trauma” and to meet with a primary care doctor and take medications only as prescribed and not while drinking heavily. She included a list of doctors and rehabilitation facilities in her note to Payne.
“Thank you for your understanding, and I wish you the very best in your continued journey toward mental health and well-being,” the psychiatrist wrote in the letter, per TMZ.
Everything to Know About Liam Payne’s Death Investigation
Payne was found dead on October 16 after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires. A preliminary autopsy cited “multiple traumas” as the cause of his death, including hemorrhages in his chest, skull and abdomen, and multiple drugs were reportedly found in his system. The incident was not ruled a suicide.
On December 29, 2024, a local news outlet in Argentina reported that five charges had been made in connection with Payne’s death at age 31. Payne’s friend Roger Nores is among those facing manslaughter charges, along with Esteban Grassi, a CasaSur Palermo Hotel receptionist, and the hotel’s head of security Gilda Martin.
Braian Paiz, a waiter, and CasaSur employee Ezequiel Pereyra were charged with allegedly supplying drugs to Payne ahead of his fatal fall, per the report. All five of those charged were summoned to appear in court.
Nores previously addressed his alleged involvement in Payne’s death, telling the Daily Mail in November that he “never abandoned” the musician. “There were over 15 people at the hotel lobby chatting and joking with him when I left. I could have never imagined something like this would happen. … I’m really heartbroken with this tragedy, and I’ve been missing my friend every day,” he claimed.
5 Suspects Charged in Connection to Liam Payne’s Death: Report
Earlier this month, Nores reportedly filed a complaint claiming that the hotel didn’t properly protect Payne during his stay. “A world-famous person was staying with obvious signs of … going through a crisis caused by drug intake at that very moment, and they did not even make an effort there to make up for their legal omission of having a 24-hour doctor,” he said according to documents obtained by TMZ.
Nores claimed that the hotel manager knew that Payne was intoxicated and argued that a doctor should have been on hand from the time the singer checked in. He accused CasaSur employees of doing nothing to help Payne in his final hours.
In a subsequent court filing obtained by Rolling Stone, Nores spoke about Payne’s drug history.
“I was a friend who loved him very much, who helped him selflessly in everything I could, who spent my own money to help him, and even then it was not enough,” he alleged. “I do not consider that I deserve the accusation that is being leveled at me.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
