Study Says Content Creators Are Likely To Experience Suicidal Thoughts – Here’s What It Means

The moment you open your social media, you are flooded with reels of all kinds – from cooking to makeup tutorials. Content creation is one of the most common professions in today’s day and age. Some people are doing it full time, while others are juggling it with their jobs. The world of digital creators looks all fun and glam from the outside, but the reality is quite different. Being a content creator can be mentally taxing because of several factors. A new study has yet again brought it into focus. It stated that content creators are more likely to have suicidal thoughts than others. Want to know more about it? Read ahead.

To get a better understanding of this, the editorial team of OnlyMyHealth reached out to Dr Divya Shree KR, Consultant – Psychiatry, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore.

What Is The New Study On Content Creators About?

A new study has been published by Creators 4 Mental Health (C4MH) and Lupiani Insights & Strategies. It stated that digital content creators experience high rates of mental health struggles such as anxiety, depression, and burnout. The findings mentioned that 10% of creators report feeling suicidal thoughts related to their work — almost double that of the broader US population.

It surveyed more than 500 full and part-time creators across North America. The study discovered that 62% of creators experience burnout, 65% report obsession over content performance and 69% report financial insecurity due to the nature of their work. An overwhelming 89% of digital creators mentioned that they lacked access to mental health resources or benefits.

Why Content Creators Are Prone To Suicidal Thoughts?

The study brings into focus the mental health aspect of content creators. If you are wondering what makes them prone to suicidal thoughts, our expert explains it for you.

“Many content creators become prone to suicidal thoughts because they constantly face high pressure to stay relevant, deal with unpredictable income, work long hours without breaks, receive harsh online criticism, and worry about negative comments,” shares Dr Shree KR.

She further explains, “They feel isolated due to spending most of their time online, compare themselves with more successful creators, struggle with unstable algorithms that affect their reach, and fear losing their audience — all of which together create stress, burnout, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion that can slowly push them toward hopelessness when they feel they are not doing enough or are failing despite their hard work.”

Why Content Creators Struggle With Mental Health Issues 

Putting yourself out there in the online world, amid trolls and judgements, is not at all an easy task. This impacts the mental health of digital creators. Our expert explains why.

“Yes, many content creators struggle with mental health because they work under constant pressure to produce new and engaging content, face unpredictable income, and depend heavily on algorithms that can suddenly reduce their reach and earnings. This creates stress and anxiety,” answers Dr Shree KR.

“They often deal with negative comments, trolling, or hate messages that hurt their confidence, spend long hours alone while filming or editing which leads to loneliness, and compare themselves with other creators. They also feel they are not doing enough, worry about staying relevant, and struggle to maintain a balance between their personal life and online life,” adds the expert.

Also Read: ChatGPT: Your New Mental Health Confidante Or Therapist? User Experiences Vs Doctor's Verdict

Tips For Content Creators To Protect Their Mental Health

Our expert shares simple tips for content creators to protect their mental health:

• Limit time spent reading negative comments, mute harmful accounts, and use tools that filter hateful messages.
• Focus on realistic goals instead of comparing yourself with others.
• Follow a healthy routine with sleep, exercise, and offline hobbies.
• Stay connected with friends or family for emotional support.
• Plan content in advance to reduce last-minute stress.
• Take digital detox days when you feel overwhelmed.
• Talk to a professional, if anxiety or sadness increases.
• Remind yourself that your value is not defined by likes, views, or follower counts.

Protecting Mental Health While Dealing With Online Hate 

Handling trolls and negativity is a major part of being a creator. One needs to learn how to deal with them and protect their mental health in the process.

“Content creators can protect their mental health while dealing with negativity, failure, and trolls by reminding themselves that online comments do not define their worth. Use moderation tools to block or mute toxic accounts, and avoid reading every negative message and focus more on supportive feedback,” advices Dr Shree KR.

“They should treat failure as a normal part of growth instead of a personal flaw, and keep realistic expectations about views and engagement. Creators can take breaks when they feel overwhelmed, talk to trusted friends or mentors for emotional support, practise self-care through sleep and exercise. Stay connected with offline hobbies that bring joy, and if stress becomes too heavy, they can seek help from a therapist to stay mentally strong,” shares the expert.

How Creators Can Deal With Digital Burnout?

On this note, Dr Shree KR shares tips for digital creators to deal with digital burnout. She says content creators can protect themselves from digital burnout by:

• Setting clear work boundaries.
• Taking regular breaks between filming and editing.
• Avoiding the pressure to post every day.
• Planning and batch-creating content, so they do not feel stressed at the last minute.
• They should turn off notifications during rest time to reduce constant digital noise. Using scheduling tools to maintain consistency without being online all the time. They can focus on quality instead of quantity.
• They can practise hobbies away from screens.
• Keeping healthy sleep and exercise habits.
• Talking to supportive friends.
• Allowing themselves time off when they feel tired.
• If signs of burnout increase, they can speak with a professional to regain balance and energy.

Also Read: Watching Studio Ghibli Movies Are Good For Your Mental Health, Shows New Study

The Final Word

Many content creators are becoming increasingly prone to suicidal thoughts these days. This is because of several factors including high pressure to stay relevant, unpredictable income, long hours and online criticism. One can incorporate some mindful lifestyle changes to keep their mental health in good shape.