Shining Light on a ‘Bleak Picture’: Why Artists’ Mental Health Matters

I want to share some findings from a recent literature review undertaken as part of the Attuned Collective’s submission for the SA Mental Health Commissioner’s Community Mental Health Boost Grant.

After years of working closely with performers, visual artists, and other creatives, I have identified consistent patterns that have clearly highlighted how these problems are much bigger than any individual’s struggle. 

In recent years significant large research studies in Australia and internationally have  highlighted the poor mental health of artists. Sadly, the latest follow up studies reveal that despite greater awareness of the problems that artists face over the last 10 years, the most recent research continues to reveal a very stark picture,  that sadly has not improved and in fact got worse through the pandemic and beyond. 

A Sobering Reality

Let’s begin with the data. A number of important Australian and international studies indicate that artists are roughly twice as likely to experience anxiety, depression, and substance misuse compared to other sectors (Eynde et al., 2016; Support Act, 2022). This is often underpinned by financial instability, unpredictable work conditions, and the personal vulnerability that comes with investing so much of oneself in creative endeavours.

These challenges became even clearer during the COVID-19 pandemic, when gigs, theatre productions, and exhibitions disappeared overnight. Some surveys (Shaughnessy et al., 2023) showed an alarming increase in suicidal ideation among creative professionals – proof that when the show can’t go on, the fallout can be devastating both economically and emotionally. 

Performance Anxiety: More Than ‘Stage Fright’

For many performing artists, performance anxiety is among one of the most overwhelming hurdles. People often call it stage fright, but research, including my own Master’s thesis research in musical performance anxiety (Frost, 1997), shows it can be debilitating – leading to coping strategies like beta-blockers or alcohol that offer only short-term relief.

The issue isn’t confined to classical musicians: dancers, actors, and other performers also grapple with deep-seated worries about judgement, failure, or simply not being good enough. Visual artists and writers experience similar anxiety and note that their creative process may shift from a state of flow into stuckness resulting in everything stopping still and feeling like they have nothing worth saying. University students and even students in a lesson with a trusted teacher experience anxiety at an incredibly high level that has them questioning their career direction and sometimes giving up despite their technical ability and natural talent.

A Triple Threat (But Not In A Good Way)

When you combine these fears with erratic work hours and fierce competition, it becomes challenging to maintain a stable or healthy lifestyle.

Artists often feel pressured to project confidence and resilience, and may buy into the old story that the “show must go on”.

This attitude and the pressure from others around them often keeps them from seeking help and has them feeling overwhelmed with anxiety or even burning out.

Reduced funding and less human resources as a result of people leaving the industry during COVID means that the crew and artists are often working longer hours, sometimes feeling pressured to work outside of their core skill set and doing more for less money in the service of the art.

The people most suffering are the artists, the crew and their families and partners who ultimately feel their absence and worry about their mental health. 

The Bleak Picture Emerges

By consolidating major Australian studies (Eynde et al., 2016; Support Act, 2022), international research (Musgrave, 2023), and personal interviews, the literature review painted a striking picture:

1. High Rates of Distress: Over 60% of artists report serious anxiety or depression – double the national average.
2. Financial Strain: Many earn under $30,000 a year, compounding stress and uncertainty.
3. Isolation and Stigma: A widespread fear that admitting mental health struggles might cost future work.
4. Limited Specialised Care: Standard mental health services don’t always accommodate irregular hours or the psychologically intense nature of artistic careers.

It’s not a random or occasional issue; it’s woven into the fabric of the arts.

A Collective Response

Even before this research was compiled, we’d begun forming the Attuned Collective to address these challenges head-on. We’re a multidisciplinary, artist-centred network of psychologists, social workers, art and dance therapists, coaches and other allied health professionals with a shared mission: to deliver mental health and wellbeing  support tailored to the realities of artistic life.

The results of the literature review confirmed just how crucial this approach is. Interestingly in the last five years or so we discovered that services very similar to what we have initiated have been running successfully in the UK and US and evaluated in published research with excellent outcomes.

This research supports the idea that students and professional artists need access to services that cover preventative skill development as well as tailored one on one or group based support when mental health or physical challenges present as a problem. Artistic talent and technical ability is simply not enough. Artists need comprehensive support to address both their mind and body to be healthy performers and artists and help to sustain their careers long term. 

Our work has shown that artists benefit most when we tailor our therapeutic approach to the specific needs of the artist and offer options such as mindfulness based therapies that are designed to build skills in regulating emotions and managing thoughts effectively to somatic (physical) and creative arts interventions. We may be able to do things like combine Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which is a mindfulness-based, cognitive behavioural therapy, with somatic therapy, or offer voice coaching alongside mindfulness-based strategies to build confidence and create a stronger performance identity.

Alternatively we are able to offer face to face or online group programs on artists wellbeing from a creative arts and dance therapist or on performance anxiety and enhancing performance by a performance psychologist. 

These holistic offerings reflect the complexity and nuance of artistic practice, and respect the unpredictable schedules and deep emotional investment that define many artistic careers. Providing support in different ways such as in person, telehealth or group/workshop interventions allows us to be flexible to the needs of the artist and recognise that touring demands and unusual hours mean that services are needed during business hours and after hours to be appropriate for their needs. 

Looking Ahead: From Research to Action

While these services are not yet universally funded, I’m hopeful.

The Community Mental Health Boost Grant has helped us demonstrate the sheer necessity of targeted, evidence-based support for artists. Over the next 12 months, our goals include:

• Broadening Our Team: Incorporating specialist physiotherapists, speech pathologists and more to create a complete mind–body approach that provides a comprehensive approach in line with what is happening overseas.
• Raising Awareness: Making it easier for creatives – wherever they live here or tour – to find professional, evidence based care that understands the demands of the arts.
• Seeking Additional Funding: Forming partnerships with grants, sponsors, donors and organisations committed to fostering a healthier arts community.
• Supporting Younger Artists: Embedding mental health literacy in schools and universities so that emerging talent can thrive from the start offering a preventative approach to health care.

A Shared Win

Why does any of this matter to the broader community?

Because art is how we tell stories, process emotions, and enrich our lives.

When artists have real tailored support, they can focus on creating powerful performances, stunning exhibitions, and engaging musical works that contribute to our collective well-being and shift the way we see ourselves and our world. A stronger, healthier arts sector benefits us all—culturally, socially, and even economically.

So while the numbers are daunting, there’s reason for optimism.

The Attuned Collective and like-minded initiatives such as Support Act, Screen Well, and the Hey Mate project across the country are all taking steps to provide tangible, artist-specific solutions.

In the light of the devastating recent closure of the Arts Wellbeing Collective in Melbourne due to a change of funding priorities after seven years of incredible pioneering work in this field, we feel there has never been a more important time for South Australia to take further steps to build on this work and support artists.

By continuing to learn from research, raise awareness, and partner with the right stakeholders, we can make mental health care as integral to an artist’s toolkit as a paintbrush or a microphone, while strengthening the artists and organisations that led our state to being named as the Festival State.

Let’s move forward together, ensuring that no one in this vital community has to choose between creative expression and mental health and well-being.

If you’d like to know more about our findings, services, or how to get involved, visit AttunedCollective.com.au. Let’s keep this conversation going and create a future where every artist has the support they need to shine.