Around one in five adults in the United States live with a mental illness. These conditions are usually seen as negative and are often linked to pain, challenges, and struggles.
But a new research paper argues that there can also be positive sides to some mental health conditions. Recognizing these positive traits may help reduce stigma, improve treatments, and bring hope to people with mental illness and their families.
The paper is called “Silver Linings in Psychological Disorders: An Agenda for Research and Social Change.” It was written by June Gruber, a psychology professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, along with researchers from Cornell University.
Gruber and her co-authors point to many studies that show some people with mental illnesses may also have unique strengths. These include creativity, emotional insight, resilience, and strong social connections.
Gruber explained that in psychology, there is usually a strong focus on finding what is wrong and trying to fix it. But in doing so, we sometimes miss the fact that people living with mental health problems may also have special talents and ways they grow as individuals.
For example, studies show that people with mild forms of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or hypomania often score higher on creativity tests. They also tend to work in creative jobs like writing, art, or music. Some of the most creative people in history are believed to have had mental illnesses.
Other studies have shown that people who have experienced depression may be more understanding and cooperative. In one study of nearly 2,000 college students, those with traits linked to bipolar disorder reported having larger social circles and feeling more supported by friends, even though they also faced more social conflict.
Another study showed that people at risk for mania may be better at noticing emotional changes in others, even if they sometimes see negative situations in a more positive way than they should.
Gruber says these findings suggest that mood disorders may come with both social difficulties and social strengths.
The researchers also looked at how people who have recovered from mental illness feel about their experience. Many say that going through tough times helped them grow stronger and become more self-aware.
In one study from 2019, 10% of people who had been diagnosed with serious depression were thriving a decade later. They had better mental health than many people who had never been depressed.
The authors of the “Silver Linings” paper are not saying that mental illness is easy or that treatment isn’t needed. They understand that these conditions can cause real suffering. Instead, they are calling for a more balanced view—one that recognizes people’s strengths along with their struggles.
They don’t want to replace medications or therapy. Those are still very important. But they believe mental health care should also focus on the full person. By seeing both the good and the bad, doctors and therapists may be able to offer better support.
Gruber says that this more complete view of a person could lead to better care, less judgment, and more meaningful support. It’s about offering real hope and treating people as more than just their diagnosis.
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The study is published in Current Directions in Psychological Science.
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