The document discusses the relationship between creativity and mental health. It notes that several studies have found links between mental health problems and creative brains, as many famous artists struggled with their mental health. However, psychologists caution against overstating this connection, as not all creative people have mental disorders. The document encourages creatives to use their talents to improve their well-being rather than being slaves to their passions. It also provides resources for those struggling with mental health issues like depression.

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A Creative’s Purpose:
Living Beyond Anxiety & Depression
Dr. Leahcim Semaj

2. Dr. Leahcim Semaj
10/23/2019 www.AboveorBeyondJM.com 2
AoB

3. The Role of The Creative:
Creatives (Poets, writers, musicians, artists) help us to rise
above the fray of the everyday living to inspire and encourage
the human heart.
Most people are emotionally illiterate - feel it but don’t know
how to express it - the role of the creative is to do it for us.
Where are you now? Calling, hustle, eat-a-food or business?
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4. Creatives & Mental Health
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5. Creatives & Mental Health
Several studies over the years have shown a
link between various mental health problems
and having a creative brain.
Many artists and creatives have famously
struggled with their mental health.
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6. Creatives & Mental Health
Vincent Van Gogh, Sylvia Plath, and Virginia Woolf
all eventually ended their own lives.
But many psychologists are tentative about reading
too much into the connection.
It's probably more valuable to look into the lifestyles
of creative people, and what leads them there.
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7. Creatives & Mental Health
One study in England, showed people who work in
arts-related jobs were up to 4 times more likely to
commit suicide.
Another study found being an author was
specifically associated with increased likelihood of
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, unipolar
depression, anxiety disorders, substance
abuse, and suicide.
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8. Creatives & Mental Health
But many psychologists are skeptical about
the proposed link,
suggesting people with emotional
volatility might be drawn into creative
industries and the entertainment world.
The public are more aware of it when they
take their own lives, or suffer from a
debilitating mental health problem.
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9. Creativity Doesn't Beget Depression
And Suicide.
Not every creative person has
a mental disorder.
Easy to look at anecdotal
evidence and jump to
conclusions, rather than focus
on the data
especially with high profile
cases of suicide.
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10. Creativity Doesn't Beget Depression
And Suicide.
Ultimately, their lives reached tragic ends in a
way nobody else will understand.
Plenty of possible reasons someone may start
to struggle with their mental health.
No overarching explanation, and you can never
really know why someone decides they can no
longer deal with the world.
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11. This is The Reality
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12. Medical Profession & Mental Health
On average, one doctor takes their own life
every day in the United States.
the highest suicide rate of any profession.
Undertreated depression or mental illnesses
Doctor suicides is between 28 and 40 per
100,000, more than double the general public.
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13. Physicians & Suicides
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14. Professions & Suicide - Gender
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15. Professions & Suicide - Total
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16. You Chose
A Career?
Or A Career
Chose You?
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17. John Holland's Theory of Career Choice
The theory is centred on
the notion that most
people fit into one of 6
personality types:
Realistic,
Investigative, Artistic,
Social, Enterprising
and Conventional.
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18. Holland
Scale
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19. Holland Scale
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20. The RealityThere are more
Artistic people than
artistic jobs.
Most will never be
able to earn a living
for their “art”
Many will just be
‘expensive hobbies’
Your ART can
be transposed
into many
other areas.
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21. Creators
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22. Everyone’s A Genius
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WHERE ARE YOU?
1. Dharma/Purpose
2. Passion
3. Mission
4. Profession
5. Vocation
6. Hustle/Eat-a-Food

24. The Reality
You get paid:
Profession
Vocation
You don’t get paid:
Passion
Mission
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25. TIME TO RETHINK AND REPOSITION
“PASSION”
Duppymanting @TheTherapistSOL Tweeted:
 (Designer | Photographer | Videographer Creative Director for @Protoje )
“Be careful when making your passion (art, music,
dance etc) your business. Don't take lightly the fact of
tieing together what makes you happy with what feeds
you, because it can really create serious emotional
distress if things don't go smoothly.”
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26. Business Failure Rate
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27. Don’t Be A Slave To Your Passion:
Why not become
passionate about
work that
matters?
Then hone your
skills & master
your craft.
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28. My Creative Evolution - 1
PSYCHOLOGIST or
PHOTOGRAPHER
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29. My Creative Evolution
Not Guilty Band
jUdgeMENt Sound System
Radio Talkshow Host
TV Show Host
Speaker
ENERGY & INFORMATION
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30. Mental Health & Creatives
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31. Critical Q & A
1. How can creatives use their
talents to make them wiser,
healthier and wealthier; in
body, mind and spirit?
Be honest as to where
you are psychologically
and spiritually.
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32. Critical Q & A
2. What steps can one take using art to fight a mental health
disorder?
For a lot of creatives, their individual work is how they cope
with life.
Self diagnosis and self medication can be dangerous.
If you or someone you know is struggling with
depression or has had thoughts of harming
themselves or taking their own life, get help.
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33. Critical Q & A
3. How is a creative’s passion, linked to their art?
Can it be a release? A way of expression?
Don’t be a slave to your passion,
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D O N ’ T B E A S L A V E
T O Y O U R P A S S I O N

35. Dr. Leahcim Semaj
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AoB

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A Creative’s Purpose:
Living Beyond Anxiety & Depression
Dr. Leahcim Semaj