Mental Health Representation in Media: Progress and Pitfalls

Mental Health Representation in Media: Progress and Pitfalls

You grew up watching mental illness portrayed on TV.

The "psycho" killer. The "crazy ex-girlfriend." The depressed person magically cured by love. The anxiety-ridden character played for laughs.

For decades, media taught us that mental illness meant:

  • Dangerous
  • Weak
  • Dramatic
  • Shameful
  • Temporary (just try harder!)

And then something shifted.

Shows like BoJack Horseman, Euphoria, Ted Lasso, and This Is Us started portraying mental health with nuance. Complexity. Honesty.

But not all representation is good representation.

Some shows glamorize suicide (13 Reasons Why). Others tokenize therapy. Many still perpetuate harmful stereotypes.

Here's the honest look at mental health representation in media: what's gotten better, what's still broken, and why it matters.

Why Mental Health Representation in Media Matters

Media shapes how we understand mental illness.

For many people, TV and movies are their first (and sometimes only) exposure to mental health struggles.

What media teaches us:

  • What mental illness looks like
  • How to talk about it (or not talk about it)
  • Whether it's shameful or normal
  • Whether people with mental illness are dangerous, broken, or just… human

Good representation:

  • Reduces stigma
  • Normalizes seeking help
  • Makes people feel seen and less alone
  • Educates the public

Bad representation:

  • Increases stigma
  • Romanticizes or trivializes mental illness
  • Spreads misinformation
  • Makes people afraid to seek help

Mental health representation isn't just entertainment. It's cultural education.

The Progress: What Media Is Getting Right

Let's start with the good news. Mental health representation has improved dramatically.

1. Therapy Is Normal Now

Old media: Therapy was for "crazy people." A character in therapy meant they were broken or weak. New media: Therapy is normalized. Characters casually mention their therapists. Therapy is self-care, not pathology. Examples:

  • Ted Lasso – Ted's therapy journey is central to his growth
  • Succession – Multiple characters are in therapy (and it doesn't fix them overnight)
  • The Sopranos – Pioneered normalizing therapy for "tough guys"
  • Fleabag – Therapy portrayed as messy, uncomfortable, but valuable

Why this matters: Normalizing therapy makes people more likely to seek help.

Check out our Therapy Culture Collection — because going to therapy should be celebrated.

2. Depression Isn't Just Sadness

Old media: Depressed characters cried in the rain, looked sad, needed a pep talk. New media: Depression is shown as numbness, exhaustion, inability to function—not just sadness. Examples:

  • BoJack Horseman – Depression as chronic emptiness, self-sabotage, not a "sad phase"
  • This Is Us – Randall's anxiety and depression portrayed as ongoing, not "fixed"
  • Fleabag – Grief and depression intertwined, messy, non-linear

Why this matters: Helps people recognize depression in themselves and others.

Learn more: Living with Depression: What They Don't Tell You

3. Anxiety Is More Than "Worrying"

Old media: Anxious characters were "worrywarts" or comic relief. New media: Anxiety portrayed as panic attacks, hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts, physical symptoms. Examples:

  • This Is Us – Randall's panic attacks shown viscerally and accurately
  • Big Mouth – Anxiety monster personifies intrusive thoughts
  • The Bear – Constant workplace anxiety and PTSD triggers

Why this matters: Validates that anxiety is a real disorder, not overthinking.

Learn more: Anxiety Isn't Just Worrying: Understanding Anxiety Disorders

4. Mental Illness Doesn't Define the Character

Old media: The "mentally ill character" was their entire identity. They existed to be pitied or feared. New media: Characters have mental illness AND full, complex lives. Examples:

  • Ted Lasso – Ted has anxiety and panic attacks, but he's also a coach, friend, optimist
  • You're the Worst – Gretchen has clinical depression, but she's also funny, messy, ambitious
  • Crazy Ex-Girlfriend – Rebecca has BPD, but the show explores her whole personality

Why this matters: People with mental illness are whole humans, not just diagnoses.

5. Recovery Isn't Linear

Old media: Character hits rock bottom → gets help → is cured. Clean arc. Neat ending. New media: Recovery is messy. Relapses happen. Progress isn't a straight line. Examples:

  • BoJack Horseman – Relapses, therapy failures, ongoing struggle
  • Euphoria – Rue's addiction recovery is painful, nonlinear
  • The Queen's Gambit – Addiction recovery with setbacks

Why this matters: Sets realistic expectations. Healing takes time.

6. Showing Therapy Sessions Realistically

Old media: Therapy montage. Instant breakthrough. Character "fixed" in one session. New media: Therapy is awkward, slow, uncomfortable, sometimes boring—and that's accurate. Examples:

  • Shrinking – Shows what therapists actually do (and their own struggles)
  • In Treatment – Entire show is just therapy sessions
  • Ted Lasso – Therapy is hard work, not a magic fix

Why this matters: Prepares people for what therapy actually feels like.

Learn more: How to Find a Therapist That's Actually Right for You

The Pitfalls: What Media Still Gets Wrong

Now the hard part. Despite progress, media still screws up mental health representation—sometimes dangerously.

1. Romanticizing Suicide (13 Reasons Why)

The problem: 13 Reasons Why portrayed suicide as revenge, with graphic depiction, and suggested it gave the victim power. Why it's harmful:

  • Suicide contagion (copycat suicides increased after the show aired)
  • Portrayed suicide as rational and effective
  • Didn't show mental illness—just interpersonal drama

What research shows: Graphic suicide portrayals increase suicide rates, especially among vulnerable teens. What media should do instead:

  • Show mental illness context (not just external circumstances)
  • Don't show method
  • Include crisis resources
  • Portray consequences realistically

If you're struggling: Mental Health Crisis Resources: 988 and Beyond

2. Glamorizing Mental Illness

The problem: Mental illness portrayed as aesthetic, quirky, or romantic. Examples:

  • Girl, Interrupted – Mental hospital as edgy, cool rebellion
  • Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope – Quirky, "broken" girl "saves" boring guy
  • Tumblr aesthetic depression (sad girl with mascara tears)

Why it's harmful:

  • Trivializes serious suffering
  • Makes mental illness seem desirable or romantic
  • Ignores the actual pain and dysfunction

Mental illness isn't aesthetic. It's not quirky. It's painful.

3. The "Magical Cure" Trope

The problem: Love/sex/purpose cures mental illness. Examples:

  • Depressed character meets someone → suddenly happy
  • Anxious character has breakthrough moment → anxiety gone
  • "You just need to find your passion!"

Why it's harmful:

  • Mental illness doesn't work that way
  • Makes people think they're "not trying hard enough" if therapy/medication don't instantly fix things
  • Ignores the chronic nature of many mental illnesses

Reality: Mental illness is often lifelong. Management, not cure, is the goal.

4. The "Psycho Killer" Stereotype

The problem: Mental illness (especially schizophrenia, DID, psychosis) portrayed as violent and dangerous. Examples:

  • Split – DID portrayed as violent and monstrous
  • Psycho – Mental illness = murderer
  • Crime shows – "Schizophrenic killer" episodes

Why it's harmful:

  • People with mental illness are MORE likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators
  • Increases stigma and fear
  • Makes people afraid to seek help (or afraid of people who have mental illness)

Reality: Mental illness does not equal violence. Media conflates the two for drama.

5. Tokenizing Therapy

The problem: Character mentions therapy once for "depth," but we never see the work. Examples:

  • Character casually says "my therapist says…" but no follow-through
  • Therapy used as character quirk, not actual mental health support
  • Show name-drops therapy without showing the process

Why it's problematic:

  • Therapy becomes a personality trait, not treatment
  • Misses opportunity to educate viewers on what therapy actually is

6. Portraying Medication as "Giving Up"

The problem: Characters who take psychiatric medication are shown as "numbed" or "zombies." Going off meds is portrayed as brave. Examples:

  • Character stops meds → becomes "their true self"
  • Medication portrayed as last resort or failure
  • "I want to feel again" (implies meds remove all emotion)

Why it's harmful:

  • Stigmatizes medication
  • Makes people afraid to try medication
  • Ignores that medication saves lives

Reality: Medication is healthcare. Not weakness. Not a moral failing.

7. Mental Illness as Character Flaw

The problem: Mental illness portrayed as selfishness, laziness, or bad behavior. Examples:

  • Depressed character called "lazy"
  • Anxious character told to "just relax"
  • ADHD character portrayed as annoying/immature

Why it's harmful:

  • Reinforces stigma
  • Makes people blame themselves
  • Discourages seeking help

Mental illness is medical. Not a personality defect.

Shows and Movies That Get It Right

Here are examples of accurate, nuanced mental health representation:

Depression:

  • BoJack Horseman – Chronic depression, self-sabotage, therapy struggles
  • You're the Worst – Clinical depression portrayed realistically
  • This Is Us – Depression intertwined with family trauma

Anxiety:

  • This Is Us – Panic attacks, generalized anxiety
  • The Bear – PTSD, workplace anxiety
  • Big Mouth – Anxiety personified

Bipolar Disorder:

  • Homeland – Carrie's bipolar portrayed with complexity (though sometimes sensationalized)
  • Shameless – Ian's bipolar journey (diagnosis, medication, management)

PTSD:

  • The Bear – Workplace trauma and flashbacks
  • Jessica Jones – PTSD from abuse

OCD:

  • As Good As It Gets – OCD portrayed with empathy (though dated)
  • Scrubs – Michael J. Fox's OCD character

Eating Disorders:

  • To the Bone – Anorexia portrayed honestly (though triggering for some)

ADHD/Neurodivergence:

  • Everything's Gonna Be Okay – Autism portrayed authentically
  • Atypical – Autism (some criticism for casting neurotypical actor)

Learn more: Neurodivergent Pride Collection

Addiction:

  • Euphoria – Addiction as disease, not moral failing
  • The Queen's Gambit – Addiction with nuance
  • Mom – Recovery community portrayed realistically

Therapy:

  • Ted Lasso – Therapy resistance → acceptance
  • Shrinking – What therapists actually do
  • In Treatment – Entire show about therapy

What Good Representation Looks Like

Good mental health representation includes:

1. Consultation with mental health professionals during writing/production 2. Actors with lived experience (when possible and appropriate) 3. Complexity, not stereotypes – Characters are multidimensional 4. Realistic portrayal of treatment – Therapy, medication, recovery 5. No "quick fixes" – Recovery takes time 6. Crisis resources – Especially for suicide/self-harm content 7. Accurate symptoms – Not dramatized or trivialized 8. Mental illness doesn't equal violence 9. Destigmatizing language – Not "crazy," "psycho," "insane" 10. Diverse representation – Mental illness affects all demographics

Why We Need More (and Better) Representation

Mental illness affects 1 in 5 adults.

But media still underrepresents and misrepresents mental health.

We need:

  • More BIPOC mental health stories (mental illness isn't just white people)
  • More LGBTQ+ mental health representation
  • More working-class mental health stories (not just wealthy people in therapy)
  • More neurodivergent stories told by neurodivergent creators
  • More chronic mental illness (not just "I got better" narratives)

Representation matters because:

  • It validates lived experiences
  • It educates those who don't understand
  • It reduces stigma
  • It saves lives

How You Can Advocate for Better Representation

As a viewer:

  • Support shows that get it right
  • Call out harmful portrayals
  • Share resources when shows miss the mark
  • Amplify mental health advocates in media

As a creator:

  • Consult mental health professionals
  • Hire writers with lived experience
  • Avoid harmful tropes
  • Include crisis resources in sensitive content

As a human:

The Bottom Line: Media Is Getting Better (But Not There Yet)

Mental health representation in media has come a long way.

Progress:

  • Therapy is normalized
  • Depression and anxiety shown accurately
  • Recovery portrayed as nonlinear
  • Characters with mental illness are full humans

Still needs work:

  • Stop romanticizing suicide
  • Stop glamorizing mental illness
  • Stop portraying mental illness as violence
  • Diversify mental health stories

Media shapes culture. Culture shapes stigma. Stigma kills. Better representation = less stigma = more people getting help.

So keep demanding better. Keep supporting shows that get it right. Keep talking about mental health.

Because representation matters.

Wear the Conversation

Mental health representation starts with us—in media, in our communities, and in our everyday conversations.

Support the movement:

Your story matters. Your mental health matters. Related Posts:

If you're in crisis:

  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call or text 988
  • Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
  • SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
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