Inside the artist’s mind exists a complex system of activity that fuels creativity in all its wonders. How to channel this creative energy is different for everyone, even for those within the same discipline. For Prince (yes, the Prince), a good song is made up of “Hidden places. Secret abilities. A part of oneself that is never shown.”

 

Creativity can be difficult to pin down what exactly it is. Yet, definitions such as the one from Prince inherently invite curiosity and maybe spark some (inner) dialogue around its meaning. One interpretation of Prince’s words may be a summoning of the otherwise untapped, setting off on a life of its own. Other interpretations may involve a new sort of imagination, or re-imagination. Both get at the essence of what creativity is, a powerful sensibility for thinking differently and creating something novel, whether tangible or in-tangible, original or remixed, taking on any number of forms. Creativity is the propellent artists use to create something special, maybe even magical at times, and can activate the senses in ways otherwise unimaginable. The sights, sounds, smells, and feelings that persist in and throughout culture can gradually (or suddenly) become something that can be felt with great intensity. This phenomenon is often referred to as art and can grow into the very etching of people’s memories and inner spirit, living on in visceral detail.

 

Over the years, however, the relationship between artist and their own creative gifts has been unsteady, and not without casualty. Take the life of celebrated author Ernest Hemingway, full of the highest highs and lowest lows, of whom also involved a persistent battle with mental illness. “The best people possess a feeling for beauty, the courage to take risks, the discipline to tell the truth, the capacity for sacrifice. Ironically, their virtues make them vulnerable; they are often wounded, sometimes destroyed.” This is, after all, how Hemingway’s story tragically ends, spoiled with the triggering of a loaded gun pressed against his head. From his well-known alcohol dependence, of which often led to multiple traumatic physical injuries, to his aggressive demeanor and interest in violence, whether involving his service time in WWI or leisurely hunting trips, Hemingway’s life had its psychological hurdles. And yet, his legacy is cemented as a legend in literature.

 

It’s not uncommon to hear of all the hours upon hours artists accrue perfecting their work, oftentimes putting their entire self into a project. These efforts center around an attempt to communicate an idea in just the right way. It’s not easy to craft work that has personal meaning, with all its intricate nuances and deeply rooted sensitivities. Any misrepresentation of the artistic idea can be a frightening place to be, potentially leading to an almost manic-like working style. This notion of artists embodying a passionate commitment to their work is far from new, as Aristotle put it, “no great genius was without a mixture of insanity.” There are countless examples of Aristotle’s declaration played out over the years, many of which involve some of the most renown creative minds people have ever seen. From Van Gogh to Hemingway, and the many more, with mental health struggles albeit slightly different, share some key similarities and insights when explored further.

 

Science has only in the last decade begun to form an understanding of creativity and how it works. One body of research explored in recent years builds on Aristotle’s infamous claim surrounding the relationship between creativity and mental illness. A 2015 study from Kings College London looked at common genetic variants of people that work in a creative capacity (acting as proxy for creativity) and polygenic risk scores for two mental illnesses – schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. In short, polygenic risk scores are genetic risk profiles for developing a gene from across the larger genome. [This study’s definition of creativity, marked by occupation, includes actors, dancers, musicians, visual artists, and writers, all of whom belonging to their respective national artistic society (of actors, for example)]. What the study observed was, polygenic risk scores for the two measured mental illnesses – schizophrenia and bipolar disorder – were more associated with the genetic variants of creativity. That is to say, those with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have a higher genetic likelihood of diagnosis in creative professionals. There’s certainly more work to be done, particularly as the specific genetics discussed are a bit unclear, but the reported findings in this study are significant in a lot of ways. The idea that creativity shares genetic traits with mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder could one day shed light on the inflection point between healthy and non-healthy (perhaps beset by mental illness) creative behaviors, and how to best equip those most susceptible to live healthy lives.

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The mental health illnesses assessed in the study – schizophrenia and bipolar disorder – can affect how people think and act, which make them very complex. Those with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder tend to express themselves in varied, sometimes arbitrary, ways, given how both illnesses impact thoughts and emotions. And as chronic conditions, treatment can be difficult and lasting. Schizophrenia is typically more severe among the two, characterized by symptoms of hallucination and unpredictable behavior, among others. In the US, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, the prevalence rate for schizophrenia is between 0.25-0.64%, which amounts to about one million people. Among them, nearly 5% die by suicide, and likely at a young age: the estimated average potential life lost for individuals with schizophrenia in the U.S. is 28.5 years. That’s nearly 50 years off the average lifespan for someone living in the US. It's a major crisis, tragic in how consequential it can be to the minds of young people. Symptoms of schizophrenia can be confusing, unpredictable, intense (de Jong), and frightening. To sense any sort of change affecting the mind and the way in which it operates can be difficult to understand, particularly as there’s so much more to be learned about the brain. Science just doesn’t have all the answers (yet).

 

This potential connection between creativity and mental illness is further supported by a Swedish study published a in 2011 (Kyaga), which analyzed over 300,000 people with mental illness. Those with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and unipolar disorder were among the mental illnesses assessed, measured along with healthy family members and a wider control group of healthy individuals. This research relied on census data, given the scope of the project, unlike the first study in which genetics were measured first-hand. The results of the research revealed a familial relationship between mental illness and creativity, evidenced by a higher likelihood among first-degree relatives of patients with a mental illness to hold a creative profession. For example, someone with a mental illness probably also had a first-degree relative who worked in a creative occupation. It affirms the results of the 2015 study referenced above, further proving the role of genetics in this proposed relationship (at least to some extent).

 

One such case of a multi-generational struggle with mental illness again involves Ernest Hemingway. His father, Clarence, experienced episodes of depression and irritability, which ultimately ended suicide when Ernest was 29. Two of his siblings – Ursula and Leicester – also died by suicide. His own son, Gregory, a one-time physician like Clarence, later became the third male in the Hemingway lineage to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which led to substance dependence and multiple psychiatric hospitalizations. But it was Hemingway’s relationship with his mother that was particularly contemptuous all throughout his life. Grace Hemingway, an opera singer who abandoned her career to raise a family, also struggled with her mental health, suffering from insomnia and headaches. Ernest Hemingway often spoke about her with deep resentment, rooted in a difficult childhood characterized by identify issues brought on by his mother. It all made for an unpredictable and inconsistent environment to grow up in. He later wrote in his 1964 memoir of families as “having many ways of being dangerous.” In a way, he couldn’t have been more spot on.  

 

It’s little surprise that individuals affected by these disorders, characterized by a heightened sense of thoughts and emotions, may be drawn to creative professions. After all, these are the roles which reward proficiencies in expressing thought and imagination. Still, despite the research painting a picture of a serious problem, it’s not unusual behavior to hear stories about the artists people adore showing symptoms of these mental illnesses.

 

There are conversations being had today to help disrupt this trend surrounding artists’ mental health struggles, some of them at large-scale events. At REVOLT’s 2020 virtual summit, a conference organized by hip-hop mogul Sean “P. Diddy” Combs in partnership with AT&T, Dr. Jessica Clemons, MD moderated a panel with two musicians, G Herbo and Mario about mental health. Both hip hop artists spoke of a growing tension beginning early in their careers related to all the change that coincides with success, from meeting new people, to spending less time at home with family. All of this is superseded by the pressure to perform, which can be debilitating to artists and the weight only intensifies if the artist’s material covers the most personal or vulnerable parts of their lives. This often relates to their personal lives, which may include challenging circumstances from their upbringing or family health issues. Many artists have built careers sharing their vulnerabilities. It’s a double-edged sword, however. While this sort of source material may resonate with audiences, it also may, in turn, force artists to revisit these difficult memories on a regular basis. The job description is hard enough. But what these conversations do is acknowledge the importance of mental health and encourage other artists to set up their careers with the right team to help mitigate the business and potential hurdles.

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How creativity has persisted through generations of artists suffering from mental illnesses seems like a miracle, especially when viewed through the lends of evolution. It’s a little puzzling that people susceptive to such debilitating behavior have lasted through time. Scientists have theorized about this, leaning on the balancing selection hypothesis, which proposes that creativity may also offer adaptive advantages that have allowed it to persist over time. It’s obvious – creativity is an incredibly important part of our lives. We all have our own relationship with it, as well as with the artists that channel it best. It’s difficult to envision a world without artists. What would it look like? What would it feel like? Creativity is the well we draw from to nurture our lives, whether we’re looking ahead, behind, or otherwise. Humans need it – so we must take care of it.

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Source List

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