How Creators Can Take Care of Their Mental Health

What do you think about when you hear the phrase “mental health”?

In the past, taking care of our emotional well-being has been stigmatized and looked down upon—especially when compared with how society views taking care of physical health. And even though we’ve made a lot of progress in the conversation in the last few decades, mental health still sometimes feels like a taboo subject.

You might worry that talking openly about your struggles could lead you to be seen as unreliable at work, or you might fear losing opportunities to people who “don’t have any issues” (at least none that they talk about).

Our take is that now more than ever, creators in particular need to pay attention to their mental health and have open conversations about the challenges they face. Being a creator means having a platform to help shape people’s lives for the better, and it’s important to be conscious of that when representing mental health conversations.

It’s also a career that puts you in the public eye and can lead to some pretty dark places, so your support system and awareness of your own mental health is essential. While social media brings amazing opportunities to create content, express yourself, connect with others, and build a business, there are aspects of it that can become overwhelming and have a negative effect.

There are some common recurring themes that tend to come up when we talk about creator mental health. These don’t cover every issue that a creator could face, to be certain, but these broad areas are some of the biggest and most important conversations we’re having with our creator community right now:

• Isolation as a creator ("I don't have a team or community")
• Burnout and overwhelm ("My whole business relies on me and I don’t get to take a break")
• Abuse and hate ("How do I manage mean comments and other forms of online bullying?")
• Impact and stewardship (What if I say the wrong thing and get cancelled? How do I stay aware and educated?)

“Not surprisingly, there is a clear pattern of burnout among creators, and many feel there is little support from social platforms to help them cope.” - Carissa Finders, Influencer Partnerships manager, Awin Group (source)

Tips for creators to take care of their mental health

If you’ve ever experienced any of these issues, you might have thought about leaving content creation as a career behind altogether.

While that may be the best choice for some people, the good news is that there are ways you can take care of your own mental health and continue doing what you love!

So how exactly can creators take care of their own mental health?

Educate yourself

Both personally and professionally, good mental health starts with knowledge. Knowing what signs to look for to help you spot trouble early on (in yourself and in your community), and knowing what resources are available can go a long way towards helping you make informed content, respond appropriately to situations online, and be aware of when you’re in over your head.

Take preventative steps

Health doesn’t happen overnight, and that’s as true for physical health as it is for mental health. Having an outlet to vent and share problems in your personal and professional life is kind of like going for a check-up at the doctor’s office. Knowing how to access care and having a place to let off steam occasionally can keep little things from turning into big things.

Find your community

Whether that’s here in the Beacons Creators space, with your own community of followers, or somewhere IRL with family and friends, there’s nothing more important to mental health than the feeling that you’re loved and supported in this world. If you’re feeling isolated, know that we’re here for you. It’s important to find a space where you feel comfortable sharing and discussing your experiences with others—whether it’s with one other person, or millions of other creators.

Remember, too, that you are not alone in your struggle. Many other struggle with mental health, whether it’s a contextual and situational struggle or a more chronic mental illness. Don’t feel like you have to solve everything on your own, and reach out to someone you trust when you’re feeling down.

Seek treatment when necessary

There’s no shame in having a therapist or seeking out group treatment. If you feel like there’s something to talk about, there’s a place out there that will welcome you to talk about it.

Toughing it out alone is something that has happened a lot in our society, and while we fully validate that asking for help can be really challenging, we know you can do it!

Share your authentic story

As a creator, you know the importance of authenticity in your work. When it comes to fears of pushback on your content, you know there will always be trolls and haters, but if you’re honestly and authentically representing your personal story and what matters to you, you’re doing it right and those bullies don’t matter.

Pro tip: Decide on 3-5 people whose opinions of you actually matter: maybe that’s your partner, a best friend, your mom, or even your dog. Guess who it isn’t? ThrowawayHandle986. So the next time mean comments start affecting you, check in with that trusted cohort on how you’re handling it, take only THEIR feedback to heart, and let the rest roll off.

Decide on 3-5 people whose opinions of you actually matter: maybe that’s your partner, a best friend, your mom, or even your dog. Guess who it isn’t? ThrowawayHandle986.

How can creators get involved in mental health initiatives?

Looking for more support or ways to get involved with mental health initiatives? These are some of our favorite programs that we know of currently.

Have one you love? Share with the community in the comments below!

• The Born This Way Foundation, co-founded and led by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, supports the mental health of young people and works with them to build a kinder and braver world.
• I Don’t Mind is a nonprofit with a mission to inspire open conversations about mental health and to provide free resources, education, and encouragement for anyone who needs it. They’re always looking for creators of all backgrounds for their Creator Ensemble.
• The Crisis Text Line is a text-based support platform that gives you an immediate response if you’re in an urgent situation and need someone to talk to. Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime, and a live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds. The volunteer Crisis Counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool moment.
• Pace Groups hosts live, small-group video therapy sessions with licensed providers. They have a huge schedule that accommodates many topics and time frames. This can be a great option if you’re looking to connect with others and experience a sense of community and camaraderie around a particular topic or challenge.
• Our partners at Real have built a new kind of wellness membership that makes caring for your mental health a sustainable part of your everyday life. Join Real to access a community-driven model of care with on-demand resources, monthly mental health tracking, and group therapy—all developed by a team of licensed therapists. Get Real for free with Beacons!
• Looking for something else you didn’t see here? CreatorMentalHealth.com maintains the largest list of mental health resources for creators on the internet.

Beacons is a platform for creators to build and connect multiple revenue streams and grow their businesses. Together with our community, we're building an ecosystem to support creators through all stages. Get all of the creator tools you need in one place and sign up for free today!