This is my editorial for Information Matters , the December 05 issue of the journal of the Schitzophrenia Society of Nova Scotia. More can be found at their website. www.ssns.ca

DARE TO CREATE

I know from first-hand experience that writing and art can be problematic activities for those suffering from delusions. After investigating the literature on the subject of art and mental illness, I am also aware of a number of specific problems that are often raised. Much is always made of the tendency for delusional people to have grandiose ideas about the importance of their work. There is the problem of the unrealistic belief by the patient that they might be able to make a living from their work, which sets them up for failure time and again. Often there are warnings about the potential negative impact of having their work on display for the public (or published) and attracting unwanted attention to the patient and their illness.

In my experience, creative activity can provide many benefits if the person thinks about it in a reasonable fashion and has the proper social support. Creative output allows an individual to express to others their unique worldviews and give the public some indication of what suffering a mental illness is like. Sometimes the work can be signed with a pseudonym or anonymously if the artist wishes to maintain privacy. Having work published or on display can also be a great boost to their self-esteem, even if it is presented with a pseudonym. Consistent use of the same pseudonym can create an identity for these artists and it will be associated in people’s minds with their individual styles.

Common concerns about mental illness and creative activity can be easily addressed, and mental illness survivors have a lifestyle uniquely suited for creative work. Many have a great deal of time on their hands and the lack of challenging and fulfilling ways to fill that time can hurt their mental health. It is the kind of activity that encourages people to create the necessary structure in their lives themselves, instead of having it imposed on them by others.

Creative practices can work wonders when combined with supportive social activities. Having hosted a creative writing group at Connections Clubhouse for several years now, I have seen the benefits to their mental health first hand. There are no lessons or assignments; the members share what they have written with the group in a non-critical and non-judgmental environment. They can attend without reading anything, and sometimes they can bring material they find inspiring from books or magazines they have read.

Being involved with these social support groups has allowed me to see an amazing thing happen: given a chance to express what they really thought and felt within a unstructured environment gave them the courage to discuss what mental illness was actually about.

Creativity is a practice that teaches us to surpass our limitations and enter into a kind of dialogue with the community at large. Creativity need not be discouraged; it can be a very healthy activity if managed properly. We all have a voice that needs to be heard. The voice of mental illness survivors is seldom heard, and it has something very important to say.