Music and mental health

Music and mental health: The hidden link between creativity and madness

Since ancient times, people have experienced what we now call depression. From as early as 5,000 BCE, in Ancient Greece, the term melancholia referred to what we now call major depressive disorder, synonymous with experiencing little pleasure in life and feeling low, down, and sad. While the word we use to describe the feeling (and disorder) of depression has changed over the years, the experience has stayed the same.

Many great composers have experienced various forms of depression. Robert Schumann is the most famous case of a famous composer who suffered from severe mental illness, including debilitating depression, anxiety, and psychotic episodes.

However, multiple other composers suffered from mental health problems. Some composers who suffered from mental health problems include:

Beethoven, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Mahler, and Rachmaninoff

Composers with Documented or Suspected Issues:

• Robert Schumann: Suffered from severe psychotic episodes, hallucinations, and likely bipolar disorder, leading to institutionalization, reports NAMI Montana.
• Ludwig van Beethoven: Experienced extreme mood swings, depression, and chronic illness, with some psychiatrists suggesting bipolar disorder.
• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Battled severe depression, anxiety, and insomnia, potentially linked to his homosexuality, according to reports.
• Gustav Mahler: Consulted Sigmund Freud for anxiety and is theorized to have had schizophrenia or existential anxiety, notes www.godhelpthegirl.com.
• Sergei Rachmaninoff: Underwent psychoanalytic treatment for a profound depression after his first symphony's poor reception, notes Piano Street.
• George Gershwin: Showed signs of conduct disorder, ADHD, and extreme anxiety, notes KQED.
• Hector Berlioz: Attempted suicide, reports www.ludwig-van.com. 

Musicians Across Genres:

• Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys): Diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, notes Paste Magazine.
• Kurt Cobain (Nirvana): Struggled with depression, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse, reports Paste Magazine.
• Billie Eilish & Halsey: Modern pop stars who have openly discussed their struggles with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, notes Billboard. 

https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/mental-illness-independent-musicians-study-73-percent-record-union-8509490/#:~:text=Trending%20on%20Billboard,a%20new%20study%20has%20found.

 

Billboard documented in this 5/7/2019 article that Nearly three-quarters of independent musicians have experienced “stress, anxiety and/or depression” in relation to their work, a new study has found.  

The results, which were published on April 30, are based on a web survey of nearly 1,500 independent musicians by Swedish-based digital distribution platform Record Union between March 21 and April 2. The survey found 73% of the population had faced negative mental health issues, with anxiety and depression topping the list of symptoms. Among those aged 18-25, the numbers are even worse, with 80% of respondents in that age range having experienced negative mental health effects stemming from their music careers. 

 

Outline on music and mental health:

Here’s a detailed book outline that connects composition and mental health through the lives and works of Beethoven, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Mahler, and Rachmaninoff, and that also situates them against modern data on musician mental health (e.g., the Record Union study showing ~73 % of independent musicians report anxiety, depression, and related symptoms tied to their work) (Mynewsdesk)

Music and mental health: from Beethoven to Schumann, an examination of the psychology behind outstanding composition

Introduction: An examination of how mental health plays a role in composition: from feeling sad and lonely to the results on the page.