11/21/2023

Magicians Made Mental Illness Disappear

Creative minds are vulnerable to mental illness

Can you think of a comedian, actor, poet or writer who suffered from mental illness? Maybe the actor Robin Williams or comedian Stephen Fry came to your mind. Perhaps it was the writer Virginia Woolf. All three have had well-documented struggles with bipolar disorder.

Mental illnesses have been associated with creative thinking for a long time. For instance, mathematician  John Nash’s battle with schizophrenia was immortalized in the film A Beautiful Mind (2001).

Research supports this link, showing that people with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia are more likely to work in creative jobs. It also shows that creative groups, including stand-up comedians, artists and scientists, are often more likely to face challenges with their mental health.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Conversation.