The Importance of Mental Health for Creative Artists
”I fight pain, anxiety, and fear every day, and the only method I have found that relieves my illness is to keep creating art."
This quote by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama puts everything about mental health and art in a nutshell: Creativity is a gift that can enrich our lives and inspire others. But it can also come with challenges, such as stress, anxiety, self-doubt, burnout, and isolation.
And this is one of the reasons I created this newsletter for you: Together, we will explore some of the common issues that affect creative artists, and I will also share some tips and resources to help you cope and thrive. Whether you are a writer, a painter, a musician, a designer, or any other type of creative artist, I hope you will find something useful and inspiring.
Your creativity matters. And your mental health matters, too.
(Side note: If reading long-ish newsletters isn’t your thing and you’d rather listen: The companion podcast will land on Friday. If you are a subscriber, it will be delivered straight to your inbox, and you can listen via your podcast platform of choice. You can switch your delivery preferences on and off in your account settings).
The Topic
The Importance of Mental Health for Creative Artists
Artists are often seen as people who have an ability to create “something out of nothing”, to inspire others, and to maybe even challenge the status quo. In reality though, being a creative artist also comes with challenges and pressures that can affect our mental health.
But what is this nebulous “mental health” anyway? As therapists, we usually assume someone’s mental health is stable when they can cope with the normal stresses of life and work productively (although: “productively” is such a loaded term with an ableist tinge). Our mental health is influenced by various factors, such as genetics, environment, and life experiences. What’s important to keep in mind is that it isn’t a fixed state, but rather a dynamic and fluctuating one that can change over time. And that’s normal.
Mental wellness is important for everyone, and poor mental health can lead to various problems. The ones artists most commonly deal with are:
Anxiety
Depression
Burnout
Imposter syndrome
Creative blocks
Substance abuse
Self-harm
Suicidal ideation
It’s needless to say that all of these problems are serious. They affect everything, from relationships to career opportunities. I obviously want to support you, but I can’t stress this enough: A newsletter like this, or Dr. Google, aren’t enough if you are struggling. Please get real life support in this case (I’ll happily provide sources if needed, so don’t hesitate to hit me up).
The Myth
Common Myths or Tropes Related to Mental Health and Creativity
It’s always been thus, but especially since we have entered the age of TikTok, many myths and tropes surround the topic of mental health and creativity. They are usually exaggerated (often even false) beliefs that influence how people perceive themselves and others. Here are just some of the most annoying ones:
The Tortured Artist: Suffering is necessary for creating great art, and happiness or stability diminish one's creativity.
The Mad Genius: Mental illness (or more recently neurodivergence) is a sign of exceptional intelligence or creativity, and treatment would interfere with one's genius.
The Lone Wolf: The idea that creative artists work best in isolation and do not need social support or feedback.
The Perfectionist: Creative artists hold themselves to unrealistic standards of excellence and avoid any mistakes or flaws because they mean failure.
The Sellout: Creative artists compromise their artistic integrity or authenticity if they wish for commercial success.
And that shit is harmful, people!
It creates unrealistic expectations. It prevents people from actually seeking help or support when needed. It stigmatises mental illness as a weakness or failure. It ignores the diversity and complexity of the creative process. And, worst of all:
It romanticises suffering or self-destruction as a virtue or inspiration.
However, there are also mental health challenges that seem to affect artists disproportionately more often. I wrote about this at length before - if you want to dive in, you can do this here (with lots of citations/research): “You have to suffer for your art”: About creativity and mental illness
Some studies suggest that creatives might be more likely to have depression than other people12 . Others suggest writers could be more than twice as likely to have bipolar disorder and more likely to commit suicide.3
Creatives may also get more anxious than other people. One study found that 6 out of 10 actors had anxiety symptoms (this rises to 9 out of 10 rock musicians), compared to fewer than 1 out of 10 people in general.4 Please look at the Equity global scoping review I have linked - it is indeed sobering.
None of these links are primarily genetic though, plus correlation, as usual, doesn’t necessarily equal causation.
Many of the things that make creatives more prone to poor mental health are down to working in the field in the first place: not having a stable job, getting paid little, working long hours, feeling alone, not getting enough support, constant competition and having (too) high expectations.
And it’s hard to consolidate these very real issues with the fact that creativity also heals. Creating art can help us relax, feel good about ourselves, express our feelings, and connect with others.
So what does that tell us?
We have to collectively challenge the myths and bad work conditions and embrace a more realistic view of mental health, creativity, and what it means to be an artist instead. And that starts with each of us, and the small steps we take every day.
The Exploration
Tips for Creative Artists Who Struggle With Their Mental Health
If you are a creative artist who struggles with your mental health, you are not alone. Many creative artists face similar challenges and difficulties - I did and sometimes still do (the fact that I also happen to be a therapist doesn’t magically make me immune). I think one of the most important things is to admit to ourselves is that we’re struggling. We need to acknowledge our feelings and needs, because let’s face it:
How often do we try to ignore or suppress our emotions? So try to identify what brings on stress or distress, and what helps you feel better. Be honest with yourself about what you need and want from your work and life.
Seek professional help. If you feel overwhelmed by your problems or have thoughts of harming yourself or others, please reach out to a qualified mental health professional. No self-help advice on the net can be a substitute.
Build a support network (I hope I can help a bit with this newsletter and its community features). Don’t isolate yourself from others who care about you. And I know from experience how hard that is - I’m terrible at asking for help because I always think I get on people’s nerves, or that they will think I’m weak. But I also know that’s a story I’ve been telling myself since I was little (because… reasons), and that it’s not true.
Practice self-care. Take care of your physical and mental health by engaging in activities that nourish your body and mind. What that means to the individual is, well, individual, so I’ll refrain from giving tips here. All I’d like to do is to encourage you to spend a bit of time on thinking about what sets you alight.
Set realistic goals and boundaries. Don’t overwork yourself or push yourself beyond your limits. Learn to say no to requests or demands that are unreasonable or harmful. Respect your own time and space (I actually put appointments and dates with myself in my diary, I’m not kidding).
Celebrate your achievements and strengths. Stop exclusively focusing on your failures or weaknesses. Learn to appreciate your accomplishments (super hard, I know).
Experiment with different methods and perspectives, whatever your creative discipline is. Don’t limit yourself to one way of thinking or doing things. Try new techniques, tools, styles or genres that challenge you. Explore different sources of inspiration and information.
Be flexible and adaptable. Don’t resist change or uncertainty (there is an ongoing thing about change in The Sandman - that’s what my other newsletter will be about, which you might also like, even if you’re not a Sandman fan. Would be awesome to say hello to you over there and explore mental health and creativity through story). Stay open to feedback, criticism, or suggestions that can help you improve your work (as long as it’s respectful. No one has time for people who just want to be mean and see you fail. Don’t engage). Be willing to revise, edit, or even discard your ideas. It’s okay to stop doing something that doesn’t work or doesn’t bring you joy.
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Questions for exploration
I love giving people (and myself) questions to chew on, so here come today’s (and pssst: There are no right or wrong answers, and you don’t need to look at all of them either):
How do you define creativity? What does it mean to you?
How do you measure your creativity? What criteria do you use?
How do you balance your creativity with other aspects of your life?
How do you currently cope with stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues?
How do you deal with creative blocks, feelings of burnout, imposter syndrome, or other challenges related to your work?
How do you seek help or support when you need it? Who do you turn to?
How do you practice self-care? What activities do you enjoy?
How do you set goals and boundaries for yourself? What are they?
How do you celebrate your achievements and strengths? How do you reward yourself?
How do you experiment with different methods and perspectives? What are some examples?
How do you adapt to change and uncertainty? What are some examples?
If you feel brave, put some of your answers in the comments or the chat, and connect with others.
That was A LOT longer than originally planned (don’t worry, not all of my musings will reach novel-length), but supporting others via writing is what sets me alight, and I hope you’ve enjoyed reading and exploring as much as I’ve loved creating this for you.
Stick around for the next newsletter in two weeks, when we will have a look at managing stress and anxiety.
Petra
Why creative people are more prone to depression (Deborah Stone, 2020) https://www.artshub.com.au/news/features/20x20-why-creative-people-are-more-prone-to-depression-261229-2368732/
The Link Between Depression and Creativity (Nadra Nittle for Verywell Mind, 2023, medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD) https://www.verywellmind.com/the-link-between-depression-and-creativity-5094193
Creativity and depression don't go hand in hand, but it can seem like they do — here's why (Lindsay Dodgson for Insider, 2018) https://www.insider.com/the-link-between-creativity-and-mental-health-2018-7
Equity global study finds those working in the performing arts are more likely to experience poor mental health | Equity Global Scoping Review (2022) https://www.equity.org.uk/news/2022/equity-global-study-finds-those-working-in-the-performing-arts-are-more-likely-to-experience-poor-mental-health/
Ah ha, I just found this post, where you've already answered something I asked in a comment.