In the last few years, there has been an increase in the discussion of mental health and its impact on various communities around the world. This is especially true for the creative community, particularly with actors, comedians, poets, painters, musicians, and other artists. Despite its fundamental importance, mental health within the art world is understudied and has received little attention.
The stigma surrounding mental health struggles makes it less likely for artists to admit they are suffering. This silence reinforces cultural norms that lead to ostracizing and can even penetrating all the way to the foundations of an artist’s career. A fear of oppositional reaction from an audience or collaborators can prevent talented artists from getting the help they need.
The unpredictability of the job can add to pre-established conditions such as anxiety and depression as artists often lack a steady income and must continuously prove their value. There can also be a sense of pressure to over-perform due to lack of job security. To make matters worse, some art forms tend to have no defined career trajectory, therefore artists can struggle to feel like they are progressing and instead feel as though they have to reinvent themselves with every project.
There are numerous resources both online and offline for artists facing mental health issues. It is essential for the art world to value and take seriously the psychological aspects of its creators. We need to advocate for better understanding in order to further support those in our artistic community.
The following suggestions are some of the many ways to help create an artistic environment that fosters mental health awareness and open discourse around mental health:
1. Provide access to mental health professionals: Whether through online communities or in-person meetings or workshops, there should be spaces dedicated to helping artists connect to mental health professionals.
2. Create positive conversations: Start a discussion of mental health amongst artist circles and peers. As long as the conversations are conducted in a safe and dependable environment.
3. Offer grants and stipends for creative projects: Increase financial security and job stability for artists to reduce anxiety and the need for continuous validation.
4. Share stories: It’s important to create a safe space to share our stories without judgement or stigma. This can be done through art, such as blog posts, online articles, films, etc.
5. Invest in art therapy: Art can be healing; create courses and classes that focus on art therapy to give artists an opportunity to concentrate on the therapeutic value of their work.
The hopefully growing discourse on mental health can bring about positive changes that better support artists and the artistic community. While the fight is far from over, there are still tangible steps that can be taken to ensure that mental health does not go unnoticed within the art world. No longer can the mental health of artists be overlooked or ignored. It is time for the art world to start taking concrete actions in building a much needed support system.