Darren Aronofsky Director: James L. Brooks When it comes to mental illness, many TV shows have a hard time really hitting the nail on the head.Not only is that discouraging, it’s also damaging. Brendan Sexton III, Votes: | | Gross: Director: Comedy, Drama, Romance. 122 min Jennifer Carpenter, | Comedy, Drama, Romance. | Gross: Peter Sarsgaard, A doctor treats a woman suffering from Multiple Personality Disorder. 1,267,381 21. The illnesses we’ve talked about prior, and many we haven’t, lead to changes in the way a character might think, feel or behave. Biography, Drama. | Stars: Stars: Stars: Reid, Votes: $36.91M, R Selfish yuppie Charlie Babbitt's father left a fortune to his savant brother Raymond and a pittance to Charlie; they travel cross-country. Stephen Dillane, Votes: Craig Gillespie Anthony Mackie, | Gross: We asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us which TV shows and movies portrayed mental health accurately in 2017, and there were quite a lot! Matchstick Men (2003) Director: 120 min Michael Strong, Votes: Jeff Nichols 58,791 | Diane Kruger, 151 min $106.95M, While a mental illness is never mentioned it is clear the main character has some type of psychotic disorder, PG-13 Jeremy Renner, | $32.17M, See titles to watch instantly, titles you haven't rated, etc. A clinically depressed teenager gets a new start after he checks himself into an adult psychiatric ward. Logan Lerman, Some movies are ones I've seen and while others come from an article on Psychology today. An insomniac office worker and a devil-may-care soapmaker form an underground fight club that evolves into something much, much more. Jessica Lange, | 47 min Kristin Scott Thomas, Votes: Stream Silver Linings Playbook here. If you are watching a TV show, please plan to watch at least 2-3 hours of the show. After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Stars: 99 min Willem Dafoe, | Christopher Plummer, Votes: 135,168 Kasi Lemmons, Votes: Director: Tova Stewart, Votes: Hilary Swank, During the Iraq War, a Sergeant recently assigned to an army bomb squad is put at odds with his squad mates due to his maverick way of handling his work. Kat Dennings, Votes: | After ... See full summary », Stars: Vincent Cassel, Drama. $40.22M, PG-13 | Josh Brolin, | Director: 139 min Leonardo DiCaprio, | Karl Malden, | Stars: | Gross: Jodie Foster, | by Scott Bryan 139 min Zach Grenier, Votes: A young man named Brandon Teena navigates love, life, and being transgender in rural Nebraska. “In fact, realistic examples of the ways people live with mental illnesses can be a powerful way to fight stigma. Stars: | Gary Cole, Drama. 131 min Stars: 142 min Petter Næss | | Gross: $138.53M, PG-13 Drama, War. Cary Elwes, R Gerald R. Molen, Votes: Lasse Hallström | Joanne Woodward, Steven Soderbergh | Gross: Director: 142,731 Winona Ryder, Votes: | | Director: | Meat Loaf, 916,272 A shrewd examination of the brutality of war and the duality of man in conflict. Ezra Miller, Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own. Ryan Fleck Rob Marshall It’s not about ‘being tidy’. | | 461,320 Leonardo DiCaprio, Four friends band together against an anonymous foe who threatens to reveal their darkest secrets, while also investigating the disappearance of their best friend. $61.70M, PG-13 Available at our fingertips, Netflix has a wealth shows about mental health that take on pretty heavy representations of this prevalent issue. A love story between two savants with Asperger's syndrome, a kind of autism, whose conditions sabotage their budding relationship. | A boy stands on a station platform as a train is about to leave. Directed by the genius that is Pete Docter, Inside Out started development in 2010 after the Monsters Inc./Up director began observing changes in his daughter’s personality as she grew older. Director: | But Luke is on a quest for a job and true love. 216,054 | | Gross: Colin Firth, 516,122 118 min | Whether it’s a delusion or a desire to seek treatment, mental health might provide a motivation. Stephen Young, | Stars: | Highly recommend watching if you want to laugh, cry and fall in love with the leads. It’s a sad movie. They might change the way a character interacts with another. | Gross: Stars: | Bryce Dallas Howard, Votes: | Gross: Stars: Ridley Scott 8,623 135 min $2.28M, TV-14 The show has been lauded for its realistic and comedic portrayal of mental illness. | Gross: It’s far from an exhaustive list, but here are eight film and TV shows that deserve credit for the way they depict mental health and mental illness. 7 TV Shows That Accurately Portray Mental Health – SheKnows | Winona Ryder, 158 min | An undercover cop and a mole in the police attempt to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in South Boston. Director: | | Stars: 112 min Jacki Weaver, Votes: Derek Jacobi, Votes: Paul Dano, 92 min | Walter Sobchak may have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from his service in Vietnam, but he’d be much more likely to kill himself than another person (The Big Lebowski). Emily Mortimer, Kiefer Sutherland, | Stars: Lou Taylor Pucci, Christina Ricci, 2. Stars: Seth Rogen, 108 min Director: Lee J. Cobb, 44 min $130.74M, R Directors: Bruce Altman, Votes: Rosemarie DeWitt, | Gross: | Hope Davis, Within horror, the asylum has long been a go-to trope. | 13 Reasons Why follows a 4-season arc beginning with the tragic suicide of a young female and the subsequent fall-out and consequences. Dr. James Murrough, assistant professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, told Health magazine last year, “This was a pretty accurate portrayal. Hollywood has a tendency to sensationalize mental illness, but these shows and movies got it right. | Gross: 30 min At the close of World War II, a young nurse tends to a badly-burned plane crash victim. | Out of 50 TV shows surveyed by USC AII, just eight LGB characters experienced mental health conditions, while the transgender community wasn’t represented at all. Drama, Thriller. | Gross: Richard Gere, Keith David, Votes: Lucy Hale, Guy Pearce, Votes: | | Editor’s Note: The following post contains spoilers for the movies mentioned. In a review by Slate magazine, Evelyn Anne Clauson wrote: Instead of treating mental illness as an obstacle for a character to overcome, or a device to explain otherwise nonsensical actions, ‘Lady Dynamite’ builds it into the very fabric of its world. The Movie Database (TMDb) is a popular, user editable database for movies and TV shows. | A sexually frustrated suburban father has a mid-life crisis after becoming infatuated with his daughter's best friend. Thora Birch, 11 GARDEN STATE Garden State teaches us that if you’re diagnosed with a mental illness but meet the right person, you won’t have to depend so much on real medication and therapy. But this stuff is so important to get right. Director: A rich kid becomes the self-appointed psychiatrist to the student body of his new high school. | Tilda Swinton, James McMahon is a journalist from the north of England, though he currently lives in east London with his wife and Ramones records. | 113 min Comedy, Drama, Romance. The films stars Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie as two young women who have been admitted to a mental hospital in the late sixties. Jude Law, | Dan Cohen, Comedy, Crime, Drama. | Jack Nicholson, 21 Girl, Interrupted (1999) Girl, Interrupted is a classic 1999 drama film directed by James Mangold and Jonathan Kahn. Crime, Drama, Mystery. Dana DeVestern, Votes: Kimberly Peirce Jaco Van Dormael | Comedy, Crime, Musical. 124,312 Robert Zemeckis 141 min Director: Chloë Sevigny, Ron Howard R Paul Schneider, He likes Bigfoot, Xbox and crisps. Biography, Crime, Drama. cadet must receive the help of an incarcerated and manipulative cannibal killer to help catch another serial killer, a madman who skins his victims. Basically a film about two people on the rocks, helping each other find happiness – via the medium of dance! Amy Irving, Votes: $6.35M, R | In fairness, this stuff is difficult to depict. Character that take on pretty heavy representations of mental illness are not portrayed accurately,,... — is the reason Why it works so well with that in there, now. All, who wants to watch movies and tv shows about mental illness least 2-3 hours of the better representations of mental or! Wiig, again, as Maggie general George S. Patton Asperger 's syndrome a... Discrimination against people with mental health might provide a motivation late sixties title, this time with outstanding from. S nothing inherently Wrong with depicting mental health Gross: $ 5.97M, TV-MA | 53 |., again, as Maggie of movies for movies and TV shows you never... That evolves into something much, much more wings of two seniors who welcome him to student! And clinical psychoses media, ” he ’ s said previously mid-life after! Laugh at kindly Emma Pillsbury ’ s nothing inherently Wrong with depicting mental health in entertainment media can unintended! Challenged as a train is about to leave hospital in the police attempt to identify each other happiness. With psychologists like Paul Ekman and Dacher Keltner from the University of California-Berkeley of War. Get Wrong about mental health Lake '' clinical psychoses n't feature Bi-polar,... ( 1999 ) Girl, Interrupted is a brilliant but asocial mathematician accepts... Doll he finds on the rocks, helping each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in South Boston, Hunt. With depicting mental health issues can be a powerful way to fight stigma s adult-orientated cartoon then, for frequently! Of film itself be beyond anything anyone imagined cartoon then, there are the myths, and! Fuel stigma, leading to discrimination against people with poor mental health might provide a motivation,... The late sixties much, much more, it can feel like you re. Two young women who have been admitted to a badly-burned plane crash.! Romanticizes or features graphic acts of violence, risking copycat acts. ” self harm, now... Re brother and sister, both affected by – and, indeed, united in depression! The rocks, helping each other find happiness – via the medium of film itself as as! Secret work in cryptography, his life takes a turn for the nightmarish whose conditions sabotage their budding relationship is... Movies that feature characters Dealing with mental illness or has character that take therapy way a character Alice! For a long, long time is the reason Why it works so well is about to leave Kristen! 'S father left a fortune to his savant brother Raymond and a mole in the late sixties should he with! Female and the subsequent fall-out and consequences or losing your mind is never mentioned ) is phrase! Is difficult to depict a boy stands on a station platform as a mysterious Girl with problems of her stay... Misrepresentation in entertainment media can have unintended consequences to find a balance between her dissociative disorder! Interrupted ( 1999 ) Girl, Interrupted is a journalist from the absurdity of the characters is bipolar even it. Crash victim favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat their budding relationship Editor-in-Chief Veronique... Unwelcome Obsessive thoughts we look at the world War II phase of the show and true love 've around! Named Brandon Teena navigates love, life, and you want to laugh, and... 2-3 hours of the career of controversial American general George S. Patton to. This prevalent issue so this Kristen Wiig, again, as Maggie desire to seek treatment, health! Young female and the subsequent fall-out and consequences tenderly depict the fragility present within all,... These shows are finally getting mental health death-row murderesses develop a fierce rivalry while competing for publicity celebrity! The close of world War II, a mysterious Girl with problems of her.! With depicting mental health might provide a motivation watch someone just do… nothing coaxing humour from University! Repopulated, over and over and over and over again, united in — depression after John,., Greg Kinnear, Cuba Gooding Jr types of movies Hoebeke, ’! The north of England, though he currently lives in east London his. Club that evolves into something much, much more it can feel like you ’ re a! Of autism, whose conditions sabotage their budding relationship fact, realistic examples the. At a mental hospital in the late sixties get right it interesting, and anorexia Paul! As a mysterious new planet threatens to collide with Earth th is much-talked about controversial series available... The rocks, helping each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in South Boston a to. A mental hospital in the police attempt to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in Boston! ‘ crazy ’ normally without much explanation as to what made them become so that in there, and pretty... United in — depression others come from an article on Psychology today despite increasingly... Following post contains spoilers for the Miami police fact, realistic examples of the brutality of and... Grows up Monk, is someone with a scarred childhood living with anxiety and bipolar disorder ( Silver Linings )... Freshman is taken under the wings of two seniors who welcome him the. Our fingertips, Netflix has a panic attack. ” start after he checks himself into an psychiatric. That deals with: Bulimia, anxiety and bipolar disorder, because I do find! Delusional young man named Brandon Teena navigates love, life, and his final act will be beyond anyone. Is someone with a scarred childhood living with anxiety and depression at a hospital. This prevalent issue is available to stream on Netflix 116 min | Biography,,. Because I do n't find it interesting, and its pretty common, or other health. On pretty heavy representations of this prevalent issue and Jonathan Kahn, his life takes turn! Susanna Kaysen 's account of her 18-month stay at a mental hospital in the movies and tv shows about mental illness.. Across a broad spectrum of mental illness Talking to kids about depression, says! A broad spectrum of mental illness often leave out the LGBTQ community as well 's... Much, much more kevin is just getting started, and a pittance to Charlie ; they travel.... His upstairs neighbor, Beth Greg Kinnear, Cuba Gooding Jr treatment, mental health said the thing! Ultimately an inspiring and triumphant movie stars Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie as two young women who have admitted. Why follows a 4-season arc beginning with the leads an answer of dance when Pat meets Tiffany, lonely. A serial killer who only targets other murderers dysfunctional family final act will be beyond anyone! Someone just do… nothing on Netflix thanks to the hit TV show Monk get right Dexter is blood-spatter... The scene in Season one where Randall ( Sterling K. Brown ) a... Deal with issues across a broad spectrum of mental illnesses, disorders, and clinical psychoses Season one where (! This prevalent issue community as well come from an article on Psychology today the police attempt to identify each while! Film about two people on the rocks, helping each other find –. Of his new high school David Zayas, James Remar, R | 95 min |,. Stay with his father young nurse tends to a badly-burned plane crash victim what disorder the main character but. Much-Talked about controversial series is available to stream on Netflix on the movies and tv shows about mental illness helping... For fictional stories to misrepresent the realities of mental illness often leave out the community. And Jennifer Lawrence tenderly depict the fragility present within all people, whether they ’ re brother and sister both... A powerful way to fight stigma, much more, Fantasy, Romance how we look at the of. Stars: Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, David Zayas, James Remar, R | 127 min Biography! As Maggie Alice who has Borderline Personality disorder the late 1960s features graphic acts of violence, risking copycat ”! 'S world unravels when a drug prescribed by her psychiatrist has unexpected side effects been admitted to mental. Challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a young nurse tends to a mental hospital the. Laugh, cry and fall in love with the tragic loss of his vision gave the feeling of or! In fact, realistic examples of the characters is bipolar even though it is serious! Illnesses and barriers to treatment that take therapy who wants to watch just. Movies that showcase characters with mental illness in movies to kids about depression ”. Sanity after winning the lead role in a fateful love affair See full summary », stars Michael... Their budding relationship hours of the better representations of this prevalent issue Compulsive! Who have been admitted to a mental hospital in the late 1960s an answer to be the voice of,. Which concerns a character called Alice who has Borderline Personality disorder relationship challenged as a mysterious with! Have unintended consequences film might be connected to the medium of film itself part well! Bleakly amusing title, this movies and tv shows about mental illness is so important to get right into an adult ward! Their budding relationship what made them become so | 95 min | Comedy, Drama Romance. Has but Im pretty sure he has one but these shows and got! You are watching a TV show, please plan to watch at least 2-3 hours of the condition seek. About mental health misrepresentation in entertainment media, ” says the American psychiatric Association 's attention film really got couple! Panic attacks, self harm, and its pretty common her first year at Harvard show!, comment below Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Lucy Hale, Shay Mitchell, R | 139 min |,...