12 platforms to support your mental health as a creative person
Putting yourself out there as a creative can feel vulnerable in a way that might not exist in other types of work. Here, we’ve compiled some mental health and self-care resources, all of which can help address common needs and challenges that crop up in creative life.
At least one in six people report experiencing a mental health problem each week. It’s an issue our industry is not immune to: despite its satisfying highs, being a creative is full of difficult lows – including imposter syndrome, rejection, erratic income and burnout.
Looking after your wellbeing is an essential part of sustaining your creative career, which is why we’ve put together this list of resources. From stress management to self-motivation, these mental health platforms and initiatives will support you in navigating many of the snags and stressors creative life can bring.
NABS
Good for: Stress management for those in the advertising, marketing and media industries
Price: Free
NABS is the advertising, marketing and media industry’s wellbeing charity. It has a confidential advice hotline, with unbiased advisors on hand to help with a full breadth of queries – including contractual questions, money management, workplace discrimination as well as burnout and overwhelm. It also offers workshops, trainings and group sessions. In 2024 alone, the organisation helped 14,000 people.
Film and TV Charity
Good for: Mental health support for those in the film, TV and cinema industries
Price: Free
The Film and TV Charity offers a wide range of support, including a hotline for industry-specific concerns as well as counselling, therapy and career coaching. If you’re not sure where to start, they provide a wellbeing check-in quiz that delivers suggestions based on your answers and creates a tailored action plan. Freelancers can also find support in the charity’s dedicated “Freelancer Wellbeing Hub”, which comes with educational tools and resources meant to empower those who are self-employed.
Self Space
Good for: Online and in-person therapy services in London
Price: From £65 per session
Founded by therapist and executive coach Jodie Cariss, Self Space supplies accessible, on-demand mental health support in London. On top of one-on-one therapy services, it also runs workshops, events, retreats and HR training. Its range of qualified professionals includes arts psychotherapists and coaches who specialise in many areas – from struggles with neurodivergence and self-identity, to workplace conflicts and low self-esteem.
Calm
Good for: Sleep, meditation and relaxation techniques
Price: £9.59 a month
Calm is an award-winning app that focuses on sleep, meditation and relaxation, all of which can take a backseat when you have a creative career or a freelance lifestyle. Along with guided mediations and daily doses of wisdom, it also offers soothing soundscapes and sleep-promoting stories read by the likes of Stephen Fry, Leona Lewis and Matthew McConaughey.
Shout
Good for: Crisis management and conversational support
Price: Free
Shout is a free, confidential, 24/7 text service for anyone whho needs mental health support. Send a text saying “Shout” to 85258 and you will be connected to a trained volunteer within around five minutes. They will then be able to send you resources and signpost further support. These conversations are confidential, and if you or someone else is in at risk, they will try to work with you to form a safety plan or contact the appropriate emergency services.
Headspace
Good for: Meditation and better thinking
Price: £9.99 a month
This renowned app offers over a variety of resources – including over 500 different meditations, online therapy and mental health coaching. Its evidence-based tools are used in 200 countries and regions around the world and have supported over 100 million people. For creatives, there are meditations on creativity, creative writing exercises, courses on dealing with distractions and plenty more.
Moodfit
Good for: Journalling, mood tracking, CBT
Price: Free with in-app upgrades from £9.99 a month
Want to better understand what affects your thoughts and feelings? Moodfit offers tools like mood journalling, breathwork, CBT and a range of trackers on everything from hydration to friend interactions. These are meant to help you assess what influences your mood so that you can shift your cognitive and behavioural pathways.
AOI Mental Health for Creative Freelancers Guide
Good for: Wellbeing techniques and support for creative illustrators
Price: Free
The Association of Illustrators (AOI), in partnership with the Society of Authors and Association of Photographers, has released a resource to support the mental health of creative freelancers. It lists places you can turn to for help if you are struggling and explains what each organisation can best help with – whether that’s advice on everyday living or crisis support. AOI also has a helpdesk for members that offers advice to illustrators on licensing, copyright, negotiation and more.
MindOut
Good for: Mental health support for LGBTQIA+ people
Price: Free online support, with counselling requiring a low-cost payment based on income
MindOut is an award-winning mental health service run by and for the LGBTQIA+ community. It has a broad and inclusive perspective on who falls under this bracket, as well as a diverse range of services to support those who reach out. These include one-to-one counselling and peer support groups if you are based in Brighton or Hove, as well as an online live chat box that’s confidential, non-judgmental, anonymous and open every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Leapers
Good for: Mental health support for self-employed creatives
Price: Free
A free and inclusive community-based platform, Leapers was founded to help freelancers cope with the emotional journey of being self-employed. Since 2017, it has helped over 250,000 freelancers. While its community space is no longer active, its still offers a host of topical advice, articles and research. These include a resource on dealing with quiet periods and a guide on how to work well when you’re in charge of, well, everything.
7 Cups
Good for: Therapy and online support
Price: Free online support, with counselling requiring a low-cost payment
Founded by psychologist Glen Moriarty, 7 Cups is an app that provides online therapy and on-demand emotional support. Its 24/7 live chat connects you anonymously to someone who will listen to what you’re feeling and support you through a message-based conversation. There are also forums to connect with others going through similar issues, as well as access to trained counsellors and therapists for a low monthly fee.
Balance
Good for: Personalised mindfulness and meditation
Price: £11.49 a month
Balance is on a mission to improve people’s lives with meditation techniques that adapt to you. Following a quick form to assess what your needs are, the app creates a personalised programme of meditations designed to improve your sleep, anxiety, stress and more. In 2021, it won Google's Best App award.
Please note that we are not medical professionals, so if you are if you are struggling, we would advise seeking advice from a GP or trained therapist.
If you need to talk to someone urgently, the Mind website lists a a range of helplines and listening services to call, including the Samaritans (116 123, free from any phone, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year) as well as the Befrienders Worldwide tool for those looking for helplines around the world.
If you live in England and need immediate support, you can also call a local NHS helpline at any time.