Mental Illness in Film and Television.

TV and Film companies have started incorporating mental illness into their shows and films. And the public have been beginning to notice.

Then again, some of the content that television and film has been producing has been so raw and uncensored that it has forced people to notice.

Television and TV talking about mental health has become a controversial topic. This is because mental illness is a real thing that people deal with everyday.

In fact, 1 in 5 people are bound to come face to face with mental illness in their lifetime. https://www.nami.org/learn-more/mental-health-by-the-numbers

Since mental illness affects so many people, it is believed that mental illness should be portrayed accurately on the big screen.

Some films and series do a great job of depicting mental illness, while others not so much.

“I saw the movie Split last year and I was actually pretty shaken afterwards because of the way that mental illness was depicted. They made it seem like that person was crazy and that’s not always the case,” said St. Thomas student Jessica Comeau.

STU student Jessica Comeau loves film but doesn’t always agree with how mental illness is depicted.

A Netflix series that was an immediate hit but also sparked controversy was 13 Reasons Why.  It was criticized but applauded for it’s depiction of mental illness.

There are many types of mental illness’s, and each of them effects every person differently. No illness, and no person are the exact same. So, when bringing mental illness to the big screen this can serve as a challenge.

It can lead to controversy, people being triggered or people just feeling offended by what they see on screen.

Then again, it can be eye opening for those who aren’t educated about mental illness.  And give those who haven’t experienced mental illness an inside look on what it’s like for someone who is struggling with a mental illness.

The big question is, should shows continue with their depictions of mental illness, wither deemed appropriate or not?

“I think they should, but they should do it in an appropriate small manner. Just introducing characters that have those mental health issues and mental disabilities,” said St. Thomas student Tanner Anderson.

Tanner Anderson says shows like the Good Doctor are good depictions of mental illness.

Not just the characters on screen are struggling with mental illness, the people watching are too.  If you feel as though you’re struggling with mental illness don’t be afraid to reach out to a friend, family member, doctor or counselor for help. https://cmha.ca/documents/getting-help