The Tragic Real-Life Story Of Jackson Pollock

Jackson Pollock might have been known for his alcoholism in the 1940s, but his struggles with mental health had begun long before that. According to Biography, Pollock was a needy child, and he often felt neglected or ignored by his mother. After his father left, Pollock became very close to his older brother, Charles, who was also an artist. (In fact, Charles was the one who inspired Pollock to enter the New York art world in 1930.) But even when living with Charles as an adult, Pollock exhibited clear signs of mental illness.

As Biographics points out, a letter between two of Pollock's brothers emphasizes very evident psychological instability in Pollock, and his troubled childhood was mentioned as the source of these problems. According to York University's Trauma and Mental Health Report, Pollock showed clear signs of bipolar disorder alongside his lifelong problem with alcoholism. In 1937, Pollock started psychiatric treatment for his alcohol addiction. A year, later, he was institutionalized following a nervous breakdown (via Britannica). Unfortunately, even after the four months at the hospital, Pollock showed little signs of change (perhaps none, apart from his stylistic evolution).

If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.