Mental Illness May Have Unexpected Positive Traits According to New Psychological Research

Mental illness is most often discussed in terms of its hardships, risks, and negative outcomes. Diagnoses typically focus on symptoms, impairment, and what needs to be treated or corrected. However, a growing body of psychological research is challenging this one-sided narrative. A new academic paper suggests that alongside real and serious difficulties, mental illness can also be associated with distinct strengths, positive traits, and long-term personal growth.

The paper, titled Silver Linings in Psychological Disorders: An Agenda for Research and Social Change, was published in 2025 in the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science. It was authored by June Gruber, a psychology professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, along with collaborators from Cornell University, including Jonathan Rottenberg. Together, they argue that mental health research and clinical practice have focused too narrowly on dysfunction, often overlooking evidence that people with mental illnesses can develop creativity, empathy, resilience, and social sensitivity.

Rethinking the Dominant Model of Mental Health

Clinical psychology has traditionally relied on what is known as the disease model, where the primary goal is to identify what is wrong and reduce symptoms. While this approach has led to effective treatments such as medication and psychotherapy, the authors point out that it can unintentionally paint an incomplete picture of people living with mental illness.

According to the researchers, many individuals experience not only distress but also growth and adaptive strengths during or after their struggles. Ignoring these aspects can reinforce stigma and limit how care is designed. The new paper calls for a broader framework that recognizes both challenges and strengths at the same time.

Creativity and Mental Illness

One of the most well-documented areas where positive traits appear is creativity. The paper reviews decades of studies showing that individuals with certain conditions, including mild schizophrenia, hypomania, and bipolar disorder, tend to score higher on measures of creative thinking. These individuals are also more likely to pursue careers in fields such as art, music, writing, and design.

Importantly, the authors emphasize that this association is strongest when symptoms are mild or well-managed, rather than severe. Creativity does not arise from suffering itself, but from cognitive styles linked to these conditions, such as divergent thinking, emotional intensity, and unusual associations.

Social Strengths and Emotional Awareness

Mental illness is often assumed to damage social relationships, and in many cases it can. However, research reviewed in the paper shows that this is not the whole story. People with mood disorders may face interpersonal challenges, but they can also develop meaningful social strengths.

One large study conducted at the University of Colorado Boulder examined nearly 2,000 college students. Participants on the bipolar spectrum reported greater social conflict, but they also reported larger social networks and a stronger sense of social support compared to their peers. This suggests a more complex social profile than is usually acknowledged.

Other research from Gruber’s lab found that young adults at increased risk for mania tend to interpret even negative situations in a more positive way. While this can sometimes be maladaptive, these individuals were also better at detecting emotional changes in others, a skill that can enhance empathy and social awareness.

Cooperation and Depression

Depression is commonly associated with withdrawal, sadness, and reduced motivation. Yet multiple studies cited in the paper suggest that people with a history of depression may show greater willingness to cooperate and heightened sensitivity to fairness in social situations.

This cooperative tendency may stem from increased self-reflection and emotional awareness developed during depressive episodes. Rather than viewing depression solely as a deficit, the authors argue that certain interpersonal strengths may emerge alongside vulnerability.

Resilience After Mental Illness

One of the most compelling sections of the paper focuses on resilience and long-term recovery. Many individuals who experience mental illness report that, after remission, they view their struggles as turning points that helped them develop deeper self-understanding, emotional regulation, and coping skills.

A notable example comes from a 2019 study led by Jonathan Rottenberg. The research followed individuals diagnosed with clinical depression over a 10-year period. While depression is often described as recurrent, the results showed that about 10% of participants were thriving a decade later. These individuals were not only free from depression but reported better psychological well-being than approximately one-quarter of adults who had never been depressed.

This finding challenges the assumption that mental illness inevitably leads to long-term impairment. It also highlights the importance of studying positive outcomes, not just relapse rates.

Avoiding a Simplistic Message

The authors are careful to stress that their work is not suggesting mental illness is desirable or that suffering should be minimized. Severe mental health conditions can be debilitating and life-threatening, and effective treatment remains essential. Medication, therapy, and clinical support save lives and should never be abandoned.

Instead, the goal is balance. Recognizing positive traits does not erase pain, but it can reduce stigma, help patients feel more understood, and guide clinicians toward treatment plans that preserve qualities individuals value about themselves while reducing harmful symptoms.

Toward a More Holistic Approach to Care

The paper calls for a shift in both research and practice. By studying the full psychological profile of individuals with mental illness, scientists can better understand how risk and resilience coexist. Clinicians, in turn, can develop more personalized approaches that support strengths rather than focusing solely on deficits.

A more holistic understanding may also influence public attitudes. When mental illness is portrayed only as dysfunction, stigma thrives. When it is recognized as a complex human experience that can include growth and capability, conversations become more compassionate and realistic.

Why This Research Matters

Mental illness affects roughly one in five adults in the United States, making it a widespread public health issue. How society talks about mental health shapes policy, funding, and individual willingness to seek help. Research like this challenges oversimplified narratives and encourages a deeper, evidence-based understanding.

By acknowledging that people can struggle and still develop unique psychological strengths, the field of psychology moves closer to capturing the full reality of mental health.

Additional Perspective on Strength-Based Mental Health

Outside this paper, strength-based approaches are gaining traction in mental health care. Positive psychology, recovery-oriented models, and trauma-informed care all emphasize the importance of personal agency, meaning, and resilience. The “silver linings” framework fits naturally within this broader movement, offering a scientific foundation for ideas many people with lived experience already recognize.

Understanding mental illness as multifaceted does not weaken clinical science. Instead, it strengthens it by reflecting the complexity of real human lives.

Research paper reference:
https://doi.org/10.1177/09637214251360738