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Robbie Williams health: Singer opens up about his 'disease' – key signs
Robbie Williams is one of those rare boyband escapees who has gone on to achieve runaway success as a solo artist, selling millions of records worldwide and topping the UK charts numerous times.
The star has also attracted headlines over the years for other reasons too – his battles with alcoholism and substance abuse have largely played out in the public eye.
The star has been candid about the underlying cause of his struggles over the years, and in an interview with The Sun, he reflected on his mental health struggles.
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The pop star said: "Fortunately and unfortunately, left to my own devices, I'm inclined to sabotage everything.
I've got a disease that wants to kill me and it's in my head, so I have to guard against that.
"Sometimes it overwhelms me and sometimes it's a tool I need to get on stage."
The star revealed that he has been close to the brink many times but understands his trials as part of the human experience.
Mental health issues can manifest themselves in a number of ways and can describe stress, anxiety, fear and panic, low mood, sadness and depression.
Most people feel low sometimes, but if it's affecting your life, there are things you can try that may help.
The first step is to recognise the symptoms associated with different forms of mental health issues.
According to the NHS, symptoms of a general low mood may include feeling:
Anxious or panicky
More tired than usual or being unable to sleep
Angry or frustrated
Low on confidence or self-esteem
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It's usually possible to improve a low mood by making small changes in your life, explains the health site.
For example, resolving something that's bothering you or getting more sleep.
If you have a low mood that lasts two weeks or more, it could be a sign of depression, however.
Other symptoms of depression may include:
Not getting any enjoyment out of life
Not being able to concentrate on everyday things
Having suicidal thoughts or thoughts about harming yourself
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Treatment for depression usually involves a combination of self-help, talking therapies and medicines.
The treatment that will be recommended will be based on the type of depression you have.
If you have mild depression, for example, you may find exercise can help your depression or reading self-help books.
If you have mild to moderate depression that is not improving, or moderate depression, you may find a talking therapy helpful.
There are different types of talking therapies for depression, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and counselling.
If you have moderate to severe depression, antidepressants may be recommended, notes the NHS.
It's not known exactly how antidepressants work but it's thought they work by increasing levels of chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters.
Certain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and noradrenaline, are linked to mood and emotion, explained the NHS.
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