The “tortured artist” archetype suggests that poor mental health is inherent to creative output, yet artists face unique mental health challenges that are often overlooked. In this session, we’ll explore the current research on mental illness in the arts and examine factors like artistic training, cultural stigmas, chronic rejection, and financial instability. We'll discuss how mental health barriers can impact an artist’s identity, purpose, and creativity. Providers will learn frameworks to address artists’ personal and creative needs, culminating in a panel of professional artists sharing lived experiences on the intersection of creativity and mental health.