Nicky Campbell

• Campbell was diagnosed with bipolar disorder after a breakdown outside London’s Euston Station in 2013. He has described receiving the diagnosis as a relief. [2]
• In a 2021 podcast appearance, he explicitly identified his diagnosis as bipolar disorder type 2. [1]

• Campbell has described experiencing severe depression since his teenage years. He has also written about periods of intense obsessions and fixations, along with deep lows and despair. [1][2]
• In 2013, he became overwhelmed after leaving the BBC’s studios in London and broke down outside Euston Station, collapsing to his knees and crying. He later described the episode as an out-of-body experience and said that difficulties had been building up inside him before reaching that point. [2]

• After his 2013 breakdown, Campbell sought medical help and had four or five sessions with a psychiatrist before receiving his diagnosis and a prescription. He has said that he expects to remain on medication for bipolar disorder indefinitely. [2]
• He has also described his dog Maxwell as an important source of comfort during difficult periods, including after the breakdown and on days when he is struggling. [2]

• Campbell has not described himself as recovered from bipolar disorder. In 2021, he said he still experienced periods of obsession and intense focus as well as low days, but that understanding his diagnosis helped him recognize what was happening. [2]

• Campbell has spoken about the importance of being open about mental health and has said that, because people are encouraged to talk about their experiences, he feels a responsibility to be candid about his own when it may help others identify with them. [2]
• He has also emphasized the importance of access to appropriate mental health care, describing himself as fortunate to have had enough time with a psychiatrist to receive a diagnosis and treatment and expressing concern for people who do not have the same opportunity. [2]

“It was a tortuous, difficult, all-consuming process to write it, but having done so it’s good to share these things with people.”

— Nicky Campbell [2]