DEPRESSION IN THE PERFORMING ARTS INDUSTRY (this blog post is based on my podcast from october 2024 and reserch for my thesis )

One of the most interesting questions in the literature is whether Performing Arts as a discipline includes a lot of environmental factors that contribute to the increase rates of mental health disorders or whether Performing Arts itself may attract individuals with a predisposition.

I think it's important to explore both of those possibilities and understand how they could impact a performer.

Are artists more prone to depression than other people? Not only do they score much higher than average on the sensitivity test, but also they are more empathetic and absorb feelings much easier , just like empathy sponges that absorb the energies of their environment rapidly, which makes them more vulnerable to depressive reactions. I have been holding workshops on well-being for artists, and I believe strongly there is a present lack of professionals and opportunties for raising awareness on mental health topics in the entertainment industry and one of my goals is to take advantage of this podcast and help with combating the discrimination and stigma around this subject .

In this blog post, I will discuss Depression in The Performing Arts Industry, comparing different approaches for overcoming depression offered by the Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprises in Performing Arts in the UK and internationally, as well as briefly tackling some key points and recommendations that might help you navigate one of the most challenging and high-risk professional environments.

If you are a performing artist, you probably understand that Performing Arts requires deep emotional engagement, often demanding that actors, musicians, dancers, and other creatives inhabit diverse characters' lives, thoughts, and emotions. This process, while creatively fulfilling, can take a significant psychological toll on you, as performers often face emotional exhaustion, identity struggles, and even burnout that leads to severe depression, while financial pressures make it one of the most difficult industries to survive.

Suicide rates are far higher than the national norm, and mental health problems are much more common among performing artists than in the general population. According to data from the Office of National Statistics on suicide in England and a recent study conducted by Help Musicians UK for Music Minds Matter, the performing arts sector can be considered an increasingly high-risk profession.  

Sadly, we have lost some of our all-time greatest performers due to suicide, alcohol and drug abuse, or other mental health-related issues. Liam Payne of One Direction has sadly recently joined the long list of singers who lost their lives to what is believed to be mental health and addiction-related behavior at a young age. Sadly, performers like Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Elvis Presley, and Jimi Hendrix have died of drug-related and mental health problems. Kurt Cobain, the vocalist of Nirvana battled depression and heroin addiction before taking his own life at the age of 27. Just weeks before his death,  Cobain overdosed on a mix of champagne and the drug Rohypnol. Amy Winehouse died from alcohol poisoning at the age of 27 after battling alcohol addiction for years.  Jimi Hendrix, another talented artist from the “Club 27 “  renowned guitarist, died from hypoxia from vomit in 1970 at the age of 27. To deal with his depression and fatigue, Hendrix had been abusing narcotics and alcohol for a long time before his death. Robin Williams had also long battled depression and anxiety, which significantly contributed to his decision to take his own life. In the weeks leading up to his death, his mental health had worsened, leading him to become more isolated and stop taking his medication.

It is easy for the general public to blame it on the so-called  “ living the rockstar life with sex, drugs and Rock’n Roll’’ or joke about“ being too famous “ . But let’s look closer at the causes and factors of their deaths and mental health problems before we can analyze the needs and compare the existing approaches and highlight any possibly unadressed matters and why ,after decades of fighting depression in performing artists, it is now more relevant than ever.

But firstly, what exactly is depression?

Depression is a shift in mood brought on by social circumstances as well as physical impacts. This category of disorders has a high incidence rate, recurrence rate, and VERY HIGH suicide rate. It is characterised by poor mood, slow thinking, and diminished interest, all of which have a significant impact on patients' ability to function socially. Research indicates that up to 60% of individuals who die by suicide have major depression, and the risk of suicide is almost 10 times higher for those with depression than for the general population, says BACKSTAGE, a platform that helps performers in the UK find casting calls, auditions, and jobs and raise awareness on mental health problems that might arise in performers.

Did you know that only 2% of performers in the UK make enough money from their creative work in order to survive? According to a 2019 study from Queen Mary University of London, numerous performers must take on non-related jobs in order to support themselve ? This led to the initiative of a podcast and peer support group named “The 98 percent “. Also, 35% of performers report having performance anxiety every time they walk on a stage, also known as "stage fright," and 83 % of dancers suffer from an eating disorder at at least one time in their lives.

But only 2 % percent of all performers said they have received psychiatric treatment in the past, as many are still reluctant to ask for help. One of the factors increasing the stigma around these struggles is that Casting Directors , producers and other powerful players and decision-makers in the industry tend to select only those performers that are already established and successful. This is why they feel the need to appear successful and hide any vulnerabilities or perceived failures. As a result, performers often find themselves projecting an image of success, even when their reality is quite different.

In 2015, the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) and Equity surveyed more than 5,000 individuals in the film and television industries. According to the poll, 40% of respondents said they were depressed, and the most frequent reasons given for mental health issues were lack of employment in the performing arts , financial difficulties, and career uncertainty or loss of control.

Another concerning picture is painted by one of the most thorough studies in this area, which was conducted by Victoria University, Melbourne academics in association with a charity that aims to enhance mental health in the Australian entertainment sector. The industry comes out as a highly unsupportive setting, despite the writers' suggestions acknowledging the enthusiasm that performing artists and others who collaborate with them—from directors to crew—have for their artistic aspirations.   

Age plays an important role as well. As depression symptoms are much more common in the 18–24 and 25–29 age groups than in the older ones, mental illness is more common in the younger population. This draws attention to the insecurity and perhaps fragility of the younger adult professionals who are attempting to make a name for themselves but lack the depth of experience necessary to handle the uncertainty of the industry. According to a recent examination of 2018 student data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, 55,000 students are enrolled in performing arts programs. Professionals in the sector frequently claim that while enrolled in a performing arts higher education program, performing artists frequently begin to experience mental health issues such as depression.

But lately performers, supported by members of the Voluntary sector such as Equity, the UK's trade union for performing artists and creative practitioners, have demanded that the industry adapt. They claim that because of an unequal power dynamic, they are reluctant to voice their opinions and feel the industry rejects them, despite consistently putting in the effort, time and focus. 

I firmly believe the performing arts sector has become more aware of the need to support artists with mental health issues. This is where concerns regarding the needs, challenges and analysis of approaches of different services are being raised.

One of the important challenges that a person in the performing arts will face is Emotional Exhaustion due to Constant Emotional Availability: Performing frequently requires tapping into intense emotions—whether sadness, anger, fear, or joy—on command.

It has been demonstrated that repeatedly immersing yourself in these heightened states can lead to emotional fatigue and eventually might lead to depression. Unlike in daily life, where emotional reactions can be processed at their own pace, performers must often manufacture or amplify emotions, which can be mentally draining. In that case, they can carry the emotional weight long after performances, resulting in feelings of exhaustion and mental fatigue, according to Equity. 

Let's take a closer look, for example, at actors who play characters with traumatic backstories, violent tendencies, or psychological disorders. These characters might be serial killers, severely depressed or suicidal individuals, based or not on real people. They may unintentionally absorb some of these dark emotions. This is especially true for method actors, who immerse themselves deeply into their roles, risking their mental well-being by experiencing their character’s pain as their own. This phenomenon, often referred to as “role absorption,” can lead to confusion, where actors feel disoriented about who they truly are outside of the roles they play. The more intensely an actor embodies a role, especially one vastly different from their own identity, the more challenging it becomes to return to their own self. Performers may experience dissociation, a psychological state where they feel detached from their own thoughts, feelings, or body, particularly after emotionally intense roles.

Performing requires vulnerability, often putting personal emotions on display for critique by an audience . The relentless demands of auditions, performances, and public scrutiny can lead to burnout. They need to travel from one place to another for a long time and have no stability. This physical and emotional exhaustion can result in burnout and a lower ability to perform and increases the chances of depression.

In the entertainment industry, you often feel a pressure to stay perpetually engaged and emotionally available, even outside of performances, you are never off.  Whether on social media, at public events, or in interviews, performers are expected to project a specific persona.

Working as a freelancer is also generally linked to poor mental health. Professionals and performing artists face a variety of stressors related to their status and the cyclical nature of their work.

Other concerns of their line of work are that over 70% of performers experience physical issues that require specialized care,  much like many professional athletes who put a lot of strain on their bodies. Often, freelance musicians are forced to try to keep their professions going by playing or singing while having severe physical symptoms and controlling them.

Another important factor I would briefly talk about in the expectation of raising more awareness is Navigating Fame and Typecasting. Once performers become identified with a certain type of performance, they may feel trapped or limited by public perception. This form of typecasting can lead to frustration and anxiety, as they feel that their creative range is being restricted or that they are only valued for a narrow aspect of their talent. For some, it is the main cause of depression and leads to a deeper existential question of whether their true identity is lost in the roles they are expected to play.

Analyzing all these factors, we understand that the needs of performers vary greatly. For some people, mental illness will only occur once during their lifetime. Of those who get a short intervention, half will get better and never need one again. Despite being well for extended periods, some people have repeated episodes and will do so throughout their lives. A psychological evaluation by a suitably qualified professional is crucial for performing artists who struggle with their mental health to guarantee they have access to the right care, as soon as possible, without having to be placed on a long waiting list, SO IF YOU ARE ONE OF THESE, HERE ARE SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS I FOUND USEFUL TO NAVIGATE THIS PROFESSION:

Recommendations

Performers needs to learn how to create emotional boundaries between their personal selves and their characters or public personas. Grounding techniques, such as reflecting, journaling and relaxation, can help performers mentally and emotionally “detach” from a role after a performance, allowing them to return to their own identity.

Being an active member of Peer Well-Being Support Groups is equally important. Equity, the UK performers' union, offers mental health support services for its members in partnership with BAPAM as Support Groups of 6-week online group sessions, as well as Individual therapy of up to six sessions of one-on-one counseling for members experiencing work-related mental health issues.

Many performers benefit from therapy, where they can process the emotions stirred up by their roles and explore any identity challenges in a safe and supportive environment. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or talk therapy can be helpful in reframing unhealthy emotional patterns that may arise during demanding roles.

Professionals in the creative industries also need to allow time to step away from their work, and focus on hobbies, relationships, and other fulfilling aspects of life. This time away from acting can help replenish emotional reserves and create a sense of balance between work and personal identity.

In conclusion, the emotional impact of performing or being part of the creative industries,  is often underestimated, yet it profoundly affects the mental health of those who engage deeply in their craft. By recognizing these challenges, understanding the main factors of depressin , the approaches and interventions that charities in this sector have in place, and adopting healthy coping strategies, performers can protect their mental well-being while continuing to thrive in their artistic endeavors.

Because performing artists have many different demands, it is evident that a broad range of support is required to address their needs. To guarantee service quality, providers should agree on clinical governance procedures. Details can be found in the BAPAM clinic governance toolbox. This guidance was created by BAPAM's Psychosocial Working Group, which consists of academics conducting research in this field, clinicians (such as physicians, psychologists, psychotherapists, and counsellors and charities that assist performing artists with their mental health and well-being. Collectively, these people and organizations hope to significantly improve the calibre of services offered.

The group's objective is to offer a forum for the discussion of prevention, care, and support strategies as well as clinical leadership for the creation and upkeep of an evidence-based program intended to assist performing artists with mental health concerns associated with their work.

Utilizing the clinical evidence base, the team has consulted the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines. This advice for the performing arts sector is based on published evidence for healthcare interventions from clinical and cost-effectiveness perspectives.

If you are a performer and think you might suffer from depression or other mental health issues, please find below  a list of Helpline contact numbers in the UK that you might consider :

Specific to Performing Arts

Music Minds Matter: Call 0808 802 8008 or email mmm@helpmusicians.org.uk https://www.musicmindsmatter.org.uk/ 24 hours, counselling can also be accessed via this helpline for those meeting Help Musicians UK eligibility criteria

Music Support: mental, emotional and behavioural health disorders (including but not limited to alcohol and drug addiction). Call 0800 030 6789

Film and TV Charity Support Line: Call 0800 054 0000 24 hours

Theatre UK: Call 0800 915 4617 or email advice@theatrehelpline.org https://theatrehelpline.org/ 24 hours

ISM members can access a 24hr personal support and advice line, telephone counselling and face-to-face counselling free of charge. 020 7221 3499

Industry Minds. Telephone and counselling service https://industrymindsuk.wixsite.com/industryminds

BAPAM: free healthcare advice and clinical assessments Call 0207 404 8444 9-5pm Monday to Friday

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