Will Young says he was misdiagnosed with bipolar in mental health emergency
Will Young (Image: Getty Images)
Will Young has said he was misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder and put on medication during a mental health breakdown, describing years of dissociation and saying he “doesn’t know how” he is still here.
Speaking on On The Mend with Matt Willis, the 47-year-old singer-songwriter said the crisis followed a tough break-up while he was appearing in the West End revival of Cabaret.
“I just had a breakdown, and I did this experimental course which I won’t name as I don’t want anyone to do it as I don’t think it’s very good, it was a bit dangerous,” Young said.
He recalled speaking to director Rufus Norris during the run, telling him: “Rufus I don’t want to panic you but I am having an emotional breakdown,” adding: “I think I will make it through.”
Will Young on trauma and misdiagnosis
Young said he began dissociating during the show’s run, describing it as a protective response to what he was going through.
“It’s a protective mechanism, and I just left my body and suddenly I couldn’t recognise my face in the mirror,” he said. “It was horrific and I felt like a walking ghost.”
Young also described trying to explain what he was experiencing while being prescribed medication. “I was completely misdiagnosed as bipolar and I wasn’t bipolar – I had trauma,” he said.
‘For the last 14 years I haven’t really been living’
Young said he remained dissociated “until fairly recently”, and that it made life “difficult” for many years. Reflecting on the impact, he said: “For the last 14 years I haven’t really been living if I am honest, I actually don’t know how I’m still here, I really don’t.”
Young won the first series of Pop Idol in 2002 and became one of the UK’s defining early-2000s pop stars. He is openly gay and has been a prominent LGBTQ+ public figure in British entertainment for decades, with hits including ‘Leave Right Now’, as well as theatre work including West End roles. He has also spoken publicly in the past about mental health, grief and personal wellbeing.
Young said being in a happy and loving relationship has helped him recover.
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