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.

Mental health is an important aspect of life, yet often overlooked and often stigmatized. We often fail to recognize the symptoms, causes, and effects of mental health issues, due to the social stigma surrounding it. This leaves individuals feeling alone, judged, and discouraged from seeking help or talking about their illness. This is a huge problem for artists, who are among the most vulnerable populations when it comes to mental health issues.

Artists rely heavily on their creativity. It’s how they express themselves and how they express their message to the world. When an artist is struggling with mental health issues, a unique caliber of worry and fear sets in. Not only do they have to worry about their art and performance, but they must also worry about their own mental state and how it will affect their work. This can especially be true for those struggling with more intense forms of mental illness.

Every artist has to face the stigma around mental health. It is something that often results in internalized stress, worry, and fear. They feel that they cannot share their story or open up about what they are going through, for fear of being judged, misunderstood, and even ridiculed. This is only perpetuated by the fact that often times, particularly in the art world, success is able to overshadow failure. This creates a false image of perfection, making it seem as though any mistake or any sign of emotional struggle must not be shared with the public.

Unfortunately, this means that many of these individuals are unable to reach out for help. Their condition continues to spiral and they become trapped in an unhealthy environment. What’s worse, is that many end up turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms in order to push down their emotions and keep them under control, further worsening their mental health.

This cycle not only needs to be broken, but it needs to be replaced by an environment of understanding, acceptance, and support. We need to remember that even though an artist may seem perfectly normal, that does not mean that they are immune to mental health issues. We must remember to be gentle and understanding with those that are struggling. We also need to encourage them to talk about their feelings and reach out for help. This support will empower them to face their issues head-on in a safe and healthy way.

It is important that we create an environment that is safe and supportive for artists facing mental health issues. We need to provide education on mental health topics and allow for open conversations about the struggles that individuals are facing. We need to provide resources and support so that people know that they have a safe place to turn to when they are struggling.

At the end of the day, the stigma surrounding mental health issues is something that all of us must take a stand against. We have the power to make a difference and provide support to those in need. By creating a more open and accepting environment, we can ensure that artists are able to focus on their craft and create beautiful works of art without fear of judgment or stigma.

It is no secret that artists are commonly plagued by mental disorders. This is not because artists are broken people. It is because the creative mind is a fragile, delicate one. It has to be to achieve the level of sensitivity that being an artist requires. The difficulty in this is that the psyches of artists are so often wounded by negative life circumstances and their mental health struggles desperately. Artists who are struggling severely with a mental disorder should admit themselves to an anxiety and depression center. Some of the more common mental disorders that are associated with artists are described below.

• Depression is one of our society’s most common mental disorders, and is also one of the most common among artists. Artists are very sensitive people who pick up on the emotions in the people and in the environment around them. They are more deeply aware of the sadness and tragedy in the world, as well as within themselves. This makes them highly prone to mental disorders like depression and leaves them requiring medication and counseling in order to cope with the world around them.
• Anxiety is another mental disorder that is found in many households across North America. It entails feelings of dread and panic at the thought or the presence of what the individual is afraid of. This stressful disorder hits artists hard because artists have huge imaginations. These imaginations can be used for good, to conceive artistic projects and concepts, but they can also be used for bad, imagining in detail every bad thing that could come of any given situation.
• ADD and ADHD are hyperactivity disorders that make a person think or act rampantly and impulsively without proper organization of the information. These types of disorders are common among artists, whose impulsive nature is a trademark of their personality. Artists are circular, free thinkers who reject structure on most levels, including within their own brains.

One of the amazing things about the arts is, though it attracts personalities who struggle with addiction, the arts themselves are actually a remedy for addiction. Art creation is a known way of sorting out one’s thoughts on addiction in order to overcome it, which makes it a therapeutic tool, but art creation is also a source of pride for those who are skilled at it, which makes it a motivating tool. These are two major necessities to implement into one’s life when they are working to recover from addiction.

Art as therapy is a frequently utilized addiction recovery tool in the mental health industry. There are many ways that art therapy helps a person work through their addiction issues in order to overcome them. Art allows an addict total freedom and control over their art project, which is liberating after being ravaged by and subservient to their addiction for so long. Recovering addicts are free to express themselves however they want to, whether it is through drawing or painting, literal images or abstract ones. One commonality that has been observed throughout the art projects of addicts is that the art represents the addiction like an entity – a malicious, conscious force that is wreaking havoc on their lives. This does a lot to separate the addiction from their own identity.

Those who have a passion for visual art can reap another kind of reward from creating it: that of motivation. When addicted artists honor their talent enough to put aside their addiction and pursue it seriously, they have a strong motivation for seeing their recovery through. This is a form of believing in one’s self, which is always a nod towards good mental health. As an addict shifts their focus from indulging in their addiction to creating worthwhile, meaningful art, their mind, time and talent is occupied, which naturally transitions them away from their addictive tendencies. This has been found to be a very effective method of recovering from addiction.

Artists can be very passionate, driven people, but can also be the kind of person who is drawn into addictive tendencies. It has been observed that many artists, both well known and obscure, have historically struggled with addiction. There is a noted connection between the arts community and addictive tendencies. The reason for this is the profile of an addict and the profile of an artist have similar attributes. Addiction can be found in any part of society, but there are some particular similarities that can be drawn between an artist and an addict. Both addicts and artists are classified as impulsive, pleasure-seeking and intent people, and it is these comparable tracks of thought that often embody artistry and addictive tendencies within the same person.

Several common addictions that are found among artists are sex, drugs and alcohol. Because artists are very sensitive and very pleasure-seeking, these pleasure-inducing activities are frequently vices to their lives and their professions. Sex addiction is found in many different lifestyles, but for artists, this intimate and erotic act becomes an area of intent thought, focus and even artistic exploration. Drugs are very commonly addictive to artists because of their natural desire to expand their minds and bend their thought patterns. Drugs alter the perception and give the user an alternate way of experiencing reality, which is a readily available way of thinking outside the box. And alcohol is often the favorite remedy for negative emotions among artists. Many artists are so sensitive that they cannot sort through their overwhelming emotions, and instead drown them with alcohol.

However, the same personality facets that contribute to addictive tendencies also inspire artistic drive, making it up to the artist to choose wisely on how and where to focus their energy. Their appreciative nature, which can get them stuck on a pleasurable substance or activity, can also be what makes them appreciate the world of the spirit and of nature more. Their tendency to want to see the world from a different angle is the same quality that helps them create truly original art. And their highly emotive tendencies can help them empathize with their audience and make them connect to their work.

Anyone who has ever been friends with an artist can attest to the fact that they are unconventional people. They are commonly impulsive, unpredictable and extreme. The unique combination of mental faculties that enable them to create art also give them a largely unconventional lifestyle. The fact of the matter is, an artist needs these unique thought patterns and brain mechanisms in order to maintain their abilities as an artist, however, they can also cause artists problems. Artists are known for their reckless, unpredictable ways – a common bi-product to the functioning of an artist’s brain.

Creativity is the most obvious attribute of an artist’s personality. Their talent and vocation depends on their ability to be creative, so they need to exercise their creative imagination regularly. The downside to this personality trait is an extreme dislike for the confines of structure. A creative mind expects to be able to disseminate and recreate everything they are involved in, as well as reject authority figures.

Fluidity is another commonly observed aspect of an artist’s personality. When someone’s personality is fluid, it means they are likely to be ever changing and are highly unpredictable. Artists often possess this trait because they are fluid in their imaginations, entertaining a range of ideas and sampling different outlooks to see which one suits them. Negatively speaking, this trait can influence someone to be wishy-washy and generally unstable.

And lastly, artists are very passionate people. In a world that grossly undervalues its artists, passion is necessary in order to see to the creative process. Artists can attest to the fact that their work means everything to them, which is why one can frequently observe an artist working for countless hours on end. The drawback to this personality type is that artists can be overly emotional, about their work and about life in general. Artists are known for their extreme sensitivity and their tendency to make choices based on their emotions.