We learned that ‘creative types’ have a higher likelihood of mental illness and suicide risk.

A study from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden analyzed census data from almost 1.2 million people with some kind of mental illness, such as depression, anxiety, alcohol abuse, autism, ADHD and anorexia.  They found that bi-polar disorder was most prevalent among people with ‘creative-based’ careers.

Furthermore, writers and authors were overrepresented among people with schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety syndrome and substance abuse problems. 

They also were twice as likely to commit suicide as the general public.