Artists and mental health

When we talk about art and mental health, what we usually have in mind is the positive impact on someone’s well-being when they engage in creative activity. What is, though, lurking in the distant corners away from the usual discussions in psychology is the mental health of those who made art their career.

Last week I went to a really interesting event organised by the Arts Council NI on Mental health and wellbeing in the creative sector, and that amplified some thoughts I’ve been mulling over for quite some time. It is not that I was unaware of the challenges of the creative sector, after all, that is very much my daily reality. The question is, what can we do if we can’t change the whole underlying structure?

In 2018, a comprehensive survey of mental health in the creative sector in Ireland (you can read the whole thing here) found that artists were three times more likely to be diagnosed with mental health issues than the general population. The most common diagnoses were anxiety and depression, but it also showed high levels of suicidal ideation and substance use. The most obvious stressors in the creative sector were the pressure to perform (also the one we put on ourselves) and insecure employment, along with low financial reward. If you work in the creative sector, you know. :-)

In the ideal world, I imagine, regular income and a little bit more space to take a deep breath and play would probably solve quite a great deal of the anxiety issues. But if we can’t do that, what is the second-best thing? At the event in Belfast, I learned about some interesting projects that I want to leave here in case someone needs them (I’m definitely signing up for a few things myself).

Minding Creative Minds is an organisation providing help to people working in the creative sector in the whole of Ireland. You can access mentoring, counselling, therapy, workshops and all sorts of programs, all free of charge. It is very accessible and not very well known in Northern Ireland.

Recovery College provides a whole range of mental health services (not specifically to people in the creative sector), both online and offline, in Northern Ireland. It is absolutely worth having a look!

Arts Council NI is starting its own series of workshops to support the well-being of artists. It is a good idea to sign up for their newsletter to get the info

And of course, what I can do, is to offer space in my coaching. As you probably know, coaching is not therapy or counselling, it does something else, it is a space to explore and think, find new perspectives and get the support and accountability you need. Unlike therapy or counselling, coaching is increadibly flexible and it is up to you, how often you want to meet or how you want to use your time (within the ethical framework, of course :) Staying in touch with a coach, even if it is just a once a month, is a good way how to take care of yourself and catch any issues before they grow into overwhelming problems.