Robbie Williams has talked about his mental health for years. In his Netflix documentary series he goes further, speaking frankly about neurodiversity and mental health and how both have shaped his life.
Robbie’s neurodivergent conditions
In his documentary, Williams shares his experiences of several forms of neurodivergence, including dyspraxia, dyslexia and ADHD.
“Dyspraxia, dyslexia, ADHD, neurodiversity, body dysmorphia, hypervigilance… There’s a new one that I acquired recently: HSP. Highly sensitive person. Post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD].”
“And, obviously, I have an addictive personality. I haven’t got narcissistic personality disorder or split personality disorder, though. I looked at them last week and, obviously, I chose all the worst options. So if I did have it, I would proudly tell you. But I am collecting them all, like Scout badges.”
In 2018, he said that he may be autistic. Speaking on BBC Radio 2, Williams said he finds it hard being in his own head.
“There’s something missing in me, I have big blind spots,” he said.
“Maybe Asperger’s or autism. I don’t know what spectrum I’m on, I’m on something.”
“It’s quite hard work being in my head. I have an interesting compulsion, addiction, mental illness, I’d say.”
More recently, LBC reported that Williams told fans during a Q&A that he has ADHD and has “just found out I have a bit of autism as well”. Many adults recognise themselves in this kind of later-in-life discovery, which we explore in understanding adult neurodivergent diagnosis.
It is unusually frank, and plenty of people who rarely hear their own experience described out loud will recognise themselves in it.
“I’m all about the neurodiversity.”
It’s a throwaway line, but it says a lot. When someone this famous talks so casually about neurodiversity, it gets easier for everyone else to do the same.
Mental health in the documentary
The documentary also covers Williams’ experiences of body dysmorphia, hypervigilance and being a highly sensitive person (HSP). Talking about something this personal on Netflix does a lot to take the stigma out of mental health conversations.
“I am a very, very, very sensitive man.”
He doesn’t treat any of it as a weakness, and he can be very funny about it.
Why his openness matters
When someone with his profile talks about neurodiversity, it changes how a lot of people think about it. He joins a long line of artists we celebrate in our article on neurodivergent musicians and their impact on the industry, and other stars such as Kit Harington, who has spoken about his ADHD diagnosis.
“If you can change your mind, you can change your life.”
It also nudges people to ask for support, and to offer it.
The documentary works because he is honest, including about the parts that don’t flatter him. That does more for the conversation than any awareness campaign.
Better Man: Robbie Williams and mental health
The biographical musical film Better Man, about the life of Robbie Williams, was well received by critics for its openness about the mental health struggles he has faced since childhood. The film takes the viewer through the performer’s personal loss, grief and battle for mental wellbeing.
Neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism and ADHD are not mental health conditions, a distinction we explain in why neurodiversity and mental health are not the same. Even so, many neurodivergent people, like Robbie Williams, also face mental health difficulties.
Being neurodivergent in a world designed for neurotypical people can bring challenges that increase the risk of stress, anxiety or depression, and research indicates that neurodivergent people are more likely to experience mental health issues than neurotypical people. For example, up to half of autistic people experience depression at some point in their lives (National Autistic Society), and research published by the US National Library of Medicine suggests up to half of people with ADHD experience one or more anxiety disorders.
That’s why lived experience like Robbie’s matters. The more openly people talk, the easier it gets to ask for help, at work and outside it. Our article on the cost of stigma for neurodivergent workers looks at what this means at work.
How Enna can help
Plenty of talented people are quietly managing ADHD, autism or dyslexia alongside their mental health, and their managers may have no idea. Our Neurodiversity Awareness for Managers training helps managers spot when someone may need support and respond with confidence, and our workplace needs assessments turn that into practical adjustments. Book a call with our team and we’ll help you work out what fits.
If you’re job hunting, the Enna jobs board lists roles with employers who value neurodivergent talent, and you can set up job alerts to hear about new ones as they come in.
