Over 401 million people all over the world suffer from depression and schizophrenia. There is a link between mental illness and creative genius, and scientists have found that eminently creative individuals have a much higher rate of chronic depression. On the other hand, it has also been proven that depression is the cause of two-thirds of the suicides in the United States every year. If those with depression and schizophrenia are not forced to get treated, the illnesses could cause self-harm or even death. However, famous creative geniuses who have suffered from depression and schizophrenia claim that their illness is the reason for their creativity and works of art and without this illness, they would not be able to produce the same work.
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Forcing those with depression or schizophrenia to get treated is doing exactly that, taking away their right to choose. No matter what the consequences of lack of medication will do for someone with these illnesses, it is unethical to go against their wishes and give them medication (Ralston, 2009). People with depression and schizophrenia usually have specific reasons for not wanting to get treated. Either they do not have enough money for insurance and health care and treatment or they feel that the reason for their creativity is their illness and if they were not sick with this illness, they also would not be creative and make such amazing art, books, movies, songs, etc. Taking away the choice of whether or not patients want to get treated for depression and schizophrenia is immoral and is going against their free …show more content…
There is a link between mental illness, creativity, and heredity which is shown in multiple studies including one done by Nancy Andreasen who is a neuroscientist who studies creativity and the brain. In this study, 30 creative writers, 30 matched control subjects, and both of their families were tested for mental illness and creativity. The creative writers and matched control subjects both had high IQs, but the creative writers had a much higher rate of mental illness. The writers’ families also showed a higher rate of creativity and possible mental illness demonstrating that there is a link between genetics and these traits (Andreasen, 1987). Another example of the link between mental illness, genius, and heredity is in Kurt Vonnegut (the prominent writer) and his family. Andreasen worked closely with Vonnegut during a case study at the University of Iowa and found that not only was he mentally ill and a creative genius, but most of his family members were also mentally ill and creative (Andreasen, 2014). The relationship between mental illness and genius is shown through genetics and how certain genes are passed on through families that make future generations more likely to possess a mental illness, creativity, or both. Since these illnesses and creativity can be found on the same genes, it shows that in order to treat one, you would have to treat the
Forcing those with depression or schizophrenia to get treated is doing exactly that, taking away their right to choose. No matter what the consequences of lack of medication will do for someone with these illnesses, it is unethical to go against their wishes and give them medication (Ralston, 2009). People with depression and schizophrenia usually have specific reasons for not wanting to get treated. Either they do not have enough money for insurance and health care and treatment or they feel that the reason for their creativity is their illness and if they were not sick with this illness, they also would not be creative and make such amazing art, books, movies, songs, etc. Taking away the choice of whether or not patients want to get treated for depression and schizophrenia is immoral and is going against their free …show more content…
There is a link between mental illness, creativity, and heredity which is shown in multiple studies including one done by Nancy Andreasen who is a neuroscientist who studies creativity and the brain. In this study, 30 creative writers, 30 matched control subjects, and both of their families were tested for mental illness and creativity. The creative writers and matched control subjects both had high IQs, but the creative writers had a much higher rate of mental illness. The writers’ families also showed a higher rate of creativity and possible mental illness demonstrating that there is a link between genetics and these traits (Andreasen, 1987). Another example of the link between mental illness, genius, and heredity is in Kurt Vonnegut (the prominent writer) and his family. Andreasen worked closely with Vonnegut during a case study at the University of Iowa and found that not only was he mentally ill and a creative genius, but most of his family members were also mentally ill and creative (Andreasen, 2014). The relationship between mental illness and genius is shown through genetics and how certain genes are passed on through families that make future generations more likely to possess a mental illness, creativity, or both. Since these illnesses and creativity can be found on the same genes, it shows that in order to treat one, you would have to treat the