Over the years, we have noticed that more and more musicians/artists started coming forward about their bouts with mental illness. Thankfully, other celebrities have paved the way and have contributed to ending the stigma attached to it. However, this got us thinking: why does it seem like such a large portion of musicians are opening up about their issues? Do musicians really suffer more from mental illness than other people, and if so, what’s the cause behind it?
In short – there is no wide-ranging evidence supporting the notion that musicians are more prone to mental illness. They are more likely to experience depression, but not a mental illness on a whole. At the end of the day, people are people. Musicians and other artists are no different. People experience life all the same and completely different, all at the same time. So, it’s no surprise to see that anyone can develop a mental illness over the course of their lifetime. However, the long answer is much more complex.
What is a musician? It’s a person who is a creative genius. An artist. People like this are all about self-expression. As such, their creative works seem more authentic than regular Joes. So when they talk about their depression (for example), it seems more relatable and, oftentimes, worse than what others experience. Couple that with a high-quality music video and the problem can look quite severe.
Moreover, having a public medium to express feelings really helps put more of a spotlight on them. And, we can see this with any celebrity outside the music world. Look at Michael Phelps and how he recently opened up with his battle. Millions of people suffer from mental illness – one in five adults in the U.S. – and yet we don’t regularly hear about the masses. We don’t hear about the “regular” suicides due to mental illness. We only hear about celebrities. Like Robin Williams. Like Kurt Cobain. Like Anthony Bourdain. It’s important to know that mental illness doesn’t discriminate. It impacts all sectors, races, religions, etc. There are no exceptions.
It’s Not Just Musicians, It’s Everyone
As you can see, mental illness is a serious issue across the world. It’s something that everyone should take seriously. It’s also important to know that there are solutions. No, there’s no easy fix to this sorry state of affairs. However, seeing a licensed therapist is a good start, and it’s something everyone should be advocating. There are many people who will be hesitant to reach out for help, and that’s understandable. But, at least educate yourself on the different areas of mental health. Read articles from professional counselors. Read personal mental health stories…or join the community to write out your own story and how it’s affected you.
The point is that you need to start somewhere, even if it’s not in a psychologist’s office. Get educated. Start opening up. This will not only help alleviate some of the feelings you have but will also motivate you to put in the work to help you get better. Don’t just sweep this under the rug. You yourself can make a huge difference. Just start.
