Hang in there, designers! From the high-pressure work environment to the never-ending cycle of being criticized and stressed out from making sure the client is happy with the final project, we understand how the creative industry can drive anyone mad. However, for a field of communication experts, we find it difficult to talk about our mental health struggles with each other and how it affects our work. Some creators fear they will receive negative backlash from their peers if they do speak out - the fear of not 'keeping up'.
For that reason, we have to stop romanticizing over the ideal of the ‘tortured artist’ because pain, anxiety, or feeling depressed shouldn’t be the driving force to generate our creativity nor the excuse to not seek help. The complexity and severity of mental health struggles can be scary and deadly, and smiling your way through it isn’t healthy. Likewise, we applaud organizations like Mentally Healthy who encourage business leaders to create policies and an open workspace for employee wellbeing.
We could continue this article with extensive research and statistics (all of the data we collected over days of endless Google searches) about the link between mental health and creativity, but we decided that relatable experiences are much more home hitting.
We had the opportunity to chat with three professional designers of different ages and career experiences to discuss their viewpoints on balancing personal and employee wellness with their work.
Read all about our open discussion with these amazing designers in our latest article: #HangInThereDesigners: Mental Health Struggles in the Creative Industry
If you or someone you know are in a crisis and not sure about what to do, don’t be afraid to reach out to these listed professionals who can provide you with the help you need. Their services are always free!
- Tennessee Statewide Crisis Phone Line: 855-CRISIS-1 (855-274-7471).
- National Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
