The Best Media Depictions Being True to Mental Health

By Freelance Contributor Saba Khalil

In recent years, mental health has become a significant concern. People are opening up more about their mental health and well-being. Consider this; if you lived almost fifty years ago, you would have believed mental health was taboo.

But now you and the people around you are giving mental health as much importance as physical health. According to research, one out of every five people go through some mental disorder. Have you ever questioned what was behind this radical change in thought?

One thing that has revolutionized our mind-set is definitely through media. Print and electronic media, including books, movies, and TV shows, greatly influence us. We feel connected to them.

In this blog, I will discuss some of the books, movies, and TV shows which have depicted mental health. 

Top 3 Best Books Depicting Mental Health

1. How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body—David R. Hamilton 

This book describes the connection between your mind and your body. It defines how being positive and healthy can help your body heal better.

The author represented the mechanism of quantum-field therapeutic rumination. The therapy fights your disease using your thought process and mind's eye. 

2. Little Panic—Amanda Stern

The story is about a girl named Amanda Stern. Amanda has been combating panic attacks throughout childhood. Not knowing what it was until she was 25 years old.

She felt that her body and mind were not in-sync with the world around her. Little Panic portrays how untreated mental illness can lead to hostile activities. This story captures how you can control your anxiety spells and bloom as an average person in society. 

3. A Beautiful Mind—Sylvia Nasar

This story is about a genius mathematician, John Nash, who has schizophrenia. It is a biography and was adapted into a film.

The book describes how schizophrenia takes over your consciousness and all your achievements. It describes the supremacy of the human mind and the influence of adoration and love in healing a person. 

Top 3 Best Movies Depicting Mental Healthy

1. The Perk of Being a Wallflower (2012)

This movie is directed by Stephen Chbosky, which is based on his novel. It is about a teenager named Charlie, who deals with trials and bullying as a freshman in high school. He starts writing letters to his friend, whom he feels he can share everything.

Unknown to him, Charlie struggles with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. He works on socializing and making friends in school. It created a lot of awareness among teenagers. You will feel grief, happiness, and pain all in this film. 

2. Good Will Hunting (1997)

Will Hunting is an unrecognized mathematics mastermind who works as a janitor. Due to his unusual harsh and abusive nature, he somehow ends up in trouble with the law. A therapist, Sean, bails him out, and as a result, Will works under Sean.

Sean changes his life and takes him out of the darkness of emotional catastrophes. It shows how you can become a different person if you want to. In the end, he will learn to face his past and look forward to a brighter future. 

3. What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

This movie revolves around a 24-year-old Gilbert who works as a grocery clerk. His brother, who is suffering from developmental issues, relies on him.

Gilbert's mother, an obese woman, suffers from depression after the suicide of her husband. The movie looks at how Gilbert tries to take care of his impoverished mentally ill family.

It realistically shows the struggles between frustration at the situation and love of family. At the time of its release, it created a lot of awareness about mental illness.

Top 3 Best TV Shows Depicting Mental Health

1. 13 Reasons Why (2017- )

A series about Hannah Baker who ends her life due to betrayal, despair, and bullying in her life. She leaves behind 13 audio tapes, and in each one of them, she tells a different reason for her suicide.

Clay and other classmates are trying to solve this mystery. A story of fallouts and betrayal it shows how words can mend or break people. Most importantly, it shows how Hannah's death has affected others in one way or another.

2. Bojack Horseman (2014- 2020) Is an American adult animated series. Although a sitcom, it has a deep satire depicting society and their thought process. Bojack Horseman is a cartoon horse who was a TV star at some point in his life.

After his limelight and fame are no more, he falls prey to depression. It shows mental illness and mental health in a very light mood and will significantly impact you.

3. This Is Us (2016- )

This TV series is about the time to time struggles of the Pearson family. It is about how they try to find joy in life and overcome the tragedies in the past. This show was praised by the way it handled anxiety and panic attacks.

It's an accurate depiction of how a human feels in such a situation. Even highlighting how black men are more susceptible to mental disorders than white men.

Conclusion:

After so much awareness in our society, some people think it a taboo to speak up about mental illness. What better than books, movies, and TV shows to help them create awareness? We tend to connect more to them, and they subconsciously leave a mark in our minds.

Do you know some other best movies, books, or TV shows depicting mental health? Don't forget to share your recommendations with me in the comments section below.