Nick Cannon Reveals Narcissistic Personality Disorder Diagnosis, Gets Candid On Mental Health: ‘I Need Help’

“I still don’t understand it all the way, but I kind of always wanted to get tested for it. I did a bunch of tests,” Cannon exclusively revealed to People on Wednesday. 

Narcissistic personality disorder is more common in men than women

According to research data from the Cleveland Clinic, “between 0.5% and 5% of people in the U.S. may have NPD. However, between 50% and 75% of cases affect men and people assigned male at birth.” To diagnose the disorder, a healthcare provider asks patients several questions about themselves and whether their symptoms align with the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The book outlines nine criteria, requiring a patient to exhibit at least five symptoms for a clinical diagnosis of NPD, per the Cleveland Clinic.

Nick Cannon embraces mental health journey to inspire others

Cannon has accepted his diagnosis and wants to use it to help others who may be struggling with it themselves. 

“I feel like there’s so many labels out there, but it’s like, to be able to embrace it and say, ‘Look, I’m healing. I need help. Show me.’ I just embrace mental health and therapy in such a strong way,” he told the outlet. “To be able to say I’m an example for others, but also be healing during the self-process works too,” he added. 

Cannon first revealed his diagnosis in a Nov. 8 episode of his Counsel Culture podcast alongside psychologist Cheyenne Bryant. He shared with her that he checked off the boxes to be “clinically diagnosed” with the disorder.

“I’ve taken all the power away from the term narcissism ’cause I’ve researched it and I understand it,” Cannon said on the episode. “Call me whatever you want… now if I didn’t know what it was, then I have issue with it.”