‘AVICII - I’m Tim’: Creativity, purpose, and mental health

This article contains sensitive topics related to mental health and suicide. Please only read (or watch the documentary discussed) if you feel safe enough to do so. If you need help with these topics, please see the links at the end of this article.

“Rewind it!” shouts little Tim as he sits next to a boxy 90's cassette player. This is at the beginning of the documentary and, by the end, I wanted to cry, reach for the remote and ‘rewind it’ myself. Even if you have no idea who Tim/Avicii was, I’d still urge you to watch 'AVICII- I'm Tim' on Netflix, given its insights into mental health, the music industry, creativity, purpose, addiction, and more.

After seeing it, I felt inspired to write this article for the creative souls out there and those who love and cherish them. If this documentary shows us anything, it’s that we need to nurture, protect, and support creativity and those who are brave enough to express themselves. Not to say that Tim didn’t receive this support from his family, friends, and others (that’s very apparent when you watch it), but the momentum with which he catapulted to fame meant that his social support network wasn't as near or as accessible for quite some time. Seeing his work schedule makes that very apparent!

Personality and creativity: "I’m Tim"

Towards the beginning of the documentary, we hear Tim talk about his parents always being “supportive of everything I’ve done, I never had to ask for anything" but we also hear about him being insecure as a child amongst his peers, at least in his early years. He’s described as shy or quiet several times. For me, there was something in his face that exuded warmth and a child-like innocence. You get the impression this is someone who’s humble about what he does; artists comment that he felt uncomfortable being called a musician because he didn’t play an instrument to a professional level. This might have been a shame-based response, but you can hear that Tim recognised he was good at what he did, especially when he brings one of his albums (not quite finished) to David Guetta and they have a listen and Tim’s face breaks into a smile, acknowledging that he knows he's onto something.

It was awe-inspiring as a viewer to see Tim's mind ticking over with new ideas. There's almost this magnetic pull for him to bring the music in his mind to life, and he comments that he experiences life through melodies, rather than feelings. You see the dedication, curiosity, and dynamic energy he brings to the creative process, but with it came the struggle to find balance, pleasure, and peace.

Helpful highlights

• Afraid of sounding arrogant or insecure? Identify your strengths, work on them, and keep that child-like curiosity as you try new things. It doesn't have to be black-or-white thinking e.g. "I'm great" or "I suck". We're all developing and growing when we practice our craft (even me as I write this... it's like a mini-pep talk)!
• Find your balance whether this be energy, time, projects, commitments, or development. We need to rest and replenish, especially to avoid burnout. This includes knowing your boundaries of when to say no, and focusing on what you want and need.
• Try not to take things personally. This includes being aware of when you're slipping into people-pleasing so that others won't say negative things. Authenticity is key for creativity and, because of this, it is impossible for everyone to like what you do; however, if you can find things you like about your work, you're sure to find others who feel the same.

Purpose: Our Why

"Money has never been the motivating factor for me, ever. The only real one entire goal I've had is the freedom that money gives you but, I felt that freedom after I was able to take a cab everywhere I want, and go out and eat, and pay rent." Tim's voice can be heard saying this over footage of him travelling in a cab post-show, then walking onto a private jet, likely taking him to yet another show. This gives us an insight into how quickly Tim secured his goal, only then to lose the freedom he desired amongst a relentless tour schedule, interviews, and requests.

So why did he continue with it all (up until a point - shown towards the end of the documentary) when he'd already reached his goal? We can never be completely sure, but the documentary does show a mixture of possible factors: insecurity, a strong work ethic, fun (to begin with), unique creativity, demand for music and shows, profits to be made, the urge to always be creating, and curiosity of what could be produced. Earlier in the footage, we hear Tim's voice saying that, prior to producing music, he always knew he would create something special, but he wasn't sure what it would be. This deep belief, coupled with talent and opportunities, was surely what projected him to the levels of fame and success he achieved.

Towards the end of the documentary, Tim is honest with himself and says: "I started giving myself room to explore; 'the centre of attention' aspect has never really been something I craved. I started realising that... yeah, that life the way it was wasn't for me." In 2016, Tim finished touring to try and "find balance in life and balance with my friends and family". With that balance came a new level of maturity and growth, which then seemed to add more depth to his lyrics. From what others said, his purpose became finding peace; peace within his mind and with his life. Sadly, this was something that seemed to elude him. 

Helpful highlights

• What gives you purpose (if anything)? It could be your creative pursuits, your relationships, the environment, other human beings, anything at all really. I don't think it's a mandatory thing, having a specific purpose, but it's worth considering. I don't believe it has to be fixed either; we can adapt, and so can our purpose.
• Is my purpose realistic and healthy for me? We're back to the word balance again, which is something that Tim mentioned. Don't get me wrong, it can be tricky to find a balance, especially when we're so passionate and energetic, but we need to be reasonable and pace ourselves when it comes to our time, health, and other commitments.
• Be honest with yourself, and seek support when you need to. We're back to authenticity again. We need to be honest with our purpose and what's possible, and this sometimes involves asking for help when we need to. There is no shame in doing so; Tim recognised this and asked for his shows to be cancelled, his last performance to be arranged, and to be given that freedom back again that he desperately needed. 

Mental health: Listen to the lyrics

After watching the entire documentary in one sitting (partly due to having a cat sleeping on my lap), I listened to the album 'TIM', which was released in 2019. Tim sadly passed away in April 2018, but the music he was working on up until that time was finished and released to honour him and to raise money for the Tim Bergling Foundation; an organisation created by Tim's family to raise awareness of suicide and mental health, and to remove potential stigma (see a link to their Facebook page at the end of this article).

Especially in his last album, the lyrics speak of strong emotions, struggle, and a need for peace. In the first song on the album 'Peace of Mind', the opening lyrics read: 'Dear society, You are moving way too fast, Way too fast for me, I'm just tryna catch my breath'. In the documentary, Tim's family speak about how anxiety was an issue for him when he was a teenager, and how he sought help from a psychiatrist at that time, which was helpful. Regrettably, as Tim's swift rise to fame sped up the pace of his life, so did the intensity of his anxiety.

Sleep, relationships, stress, and addiction were other struggles for the Swedish DJ. His song 'SOS' features the words 'Can you hear me? S.O.S. Help me put my mind to rest' and later 'I get robbed of all my sleep As my thoughts begin to bleed'. Lyrics appeared to offer some sort of catharsis for Tim, much like a lot of artists, who pour their hearts into their work. Yet the fame that came with the success plagued him, as the lyrics in 'Ain't a Thing' suggest (and are also featured in the documentary): 'When the record's on the final song, And the party's will be long, long gone, All the pretenders and the hangers on, Can go find themselves another one.' Hints of Tim's suicidal thoughts left me cold when listening to the album, like a final nod indicating both pain and defiance simultaneously.

The last lyrics of the final song on the album are 'And I can't go back and I can't go back, Don't you love it, how it all, it all just fades away?' It is hauntingly sad and yet beautifully sung, and I welled up listening to this song when I first heard it. I loved Avicii and had wanted to see him perform, but I never got to. Part of me regrets this, but I'm also OK with it, since I would have wondered whether he'd actually enjoyed performing that show, or was masking the entire time to hide his pain.

In the documentary, it was said there was a struggle to differentiate between 'Tim' and 'Avicii', which some commented left him vulnerable and unable to separate his authentic self from his work. There is a fine line between the authentic self expressing emotions through lyrics (arguably a healthy coping mechanism), and them becoming entangled in the performance and identity of the artist/ persona. That's a difficult line to tread, especially without advice or experience from other artists.

The final part of the documentary is heart-wrenching; Tim's family and close friends describing their grief. You can hear the confusion as they speak about how he had appeared to be doing so well around that time; travelling, creating music, socialising, seeking out and undergoing health treatments and therapy. It had almost come out of the blue, with no immediate warning. I remember hearing the news and feeling shocked and sad, hoping it wasn't true and, when it was confirmed, trying to understand why. This was before my counselling training, before I understood that there isn't always a clear 'why' to suicide.

Helpful highlights

• Use your art form to express yourself; your emotions, thoughts, and sensations (if you can do so safely) and step away if you need to.
• Ask for help, whether that be a helpline, a trusted friend, a relative, a colleague, a mental health professional, or a GP. If you know someone who is struggling, check in with them and ask them sincerely if they're feeling suicidal; it breaks the stigma and might break the painful silence they might be experiencing. Seek support if needed from professionals, charities, and helplines (see links at the end of this article). Some employers might offer free counselling sessions as part of their employment package, so check if you (or someone you know) has access to this. If someone is actively suicidal, a last resort would be to take them to A&E, or call emergency services if you can't take them/ they refuse to go.
• Learn more about mental health. It feels like the stigma around mental health has been shifting in recent times, but that doesn't necessarily mean it has gone completely. If you feel unsure about a mental health condition, or suspect that someone you know might be struggling, try to educate yourself by looking at mental health websites (see links at the end of this article), rles eading articfrom trusted sources, and watching YouTube videos created by qualified professionals. If someone you know is struggling with their mental health, and they want to speak with you about it, why not have a conversation? Sometimes we learn best from those around us, and it might help them if they're feeling isolated or alone. 

You might be wondering why I used 'Tim' throughout this article, rather than 'Avicii'? Of course, the obvious answer is that his name was in the title of the documentary, but that isn't the only reason. I wanted to honour the man, the human being who was clearly loved and cherished not just for his talent or what he produced, but for who he was as a person. I hope you watch the documentary to gain your own insights and perspective of who Tim was, what happened, and what you can learn from it. For me, it was a stark reminder of the value that authenticity, creativity, and purpose can bring us; that peace and freedom are something we all seek; and to love, cherish, and be there for our loved ones when we can. 

• 'AVICII- I'm Tim' Documentary can be found on Netflix (as of time of writing- 04/02/2025)
• 'TIM' (2019) full album.

For more information around suicide, to access support for yourself, or for a loved one affected by suicide, please visit: 

• Samaritans
• SOS Silence of Suicide
• Tim Bergling Foundation
• Papyrus UK (Prevention of Young Suicide)
• Support After Suicide Partnership

For further information or support of other mental health issues, please visit: 

• Mind
• Mental Health UK
• NHS (Mental Health)