An illustration shows a teenager confused by the misrepresentation of mental health in the media. Inaccurate depictions of mental illness in the media have harmed mental health, especially that of teenagers. “Glorification — describing something in an unjustified positive light — can mislead teenagers to think that mental illness and the emotions that go along with it can be positive in some way,” Digital Editor Lea D’Angelo wrote. “This can worsen emotional distress or cause a refusal to seek help.” Illustration by Kimberly Sanabria-Amaya
Mental health representation in the media has increased in recent years. However, the representation is often inaccurate and unrealistic, which in turn impacts teenagers.
Any representation is good representation, right?
Hardly, especially when it comes to something as serious as mental health.
In recent years, depictions of mental health in the media have become increasingly more common, with books, shows and movies like “13 Reasons Why”, “Heartstopper” and “Turtles All the Way Down” gaining popularity, especially among adolescents.
Despite this, mental health in the media is often violent, glamorized and stereotypical. A 2023 study done by the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism on mental health in popular films found that as of 2022, 72% of film characters diagnosed with a mental illness were portrayed violently.
Throughout the Netflix show “13 Reasons Why,” as protagonist Clay Jenson struggles more with his mental health, he is shown having several violent outbursts and periods of uncontrolled anger. While this may be the reality for some, dramatizing his experience to the extent the show did only contribute to the already preexisting stigma surrounding mental illness.
However, those behind these depictions — authors, writers and producers — clearly don’t consider the impact this can have on mental health when attempting to depict the issue.
“Students seeing (mental health) portrayed in a negative or incorrect way does more harm than good,” Clarke Central High School Mental Health Counselor Anna Moses said. “It can make people feel more lonely, strange or not want to speak out about how they’re feeling so they don’t get diagnosed for any of those things.”
An infographic shows statistics regarding the representation of mental health and illness in popular films as of 2022. According to the University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, many films portraying mental health have often used negative and stigmatizing terms to describe those struggling with mental health, such as “crazy” or “psycho”. “Mental health has consistently been underrepresented in books, movies and TV shows, so an increase is a step in the right direction. However, that “representation” must be productive,” Digital Editor Lea D’Angelo wrote. Graphic by Lea D’Angelo
But dramatizing mental health isn’t the only problem. Glorifying the issue is also likely to make things worse, according to the National Institute of Health.
“The allure of negativity, packaged in aesthetically pleasing edits and shared experiences, captivates young audiences, blurring the lines between universal emotions and genuine mental health symptoms,” the article stated.
In “All the Bright Places” by Jennifer Niven, Theodore Finch, a character diagnosed with bipolar disorder and Violet Markey, who is battling grief after the death of her older sister, cross paths, seemingly due to the challenges they’re each going through.
While certain aspects of this story can be considered realistic, the messages it sends cannot. In viewers’ eyes, Violet’s grief, Finch’s mania, and both characters’ suicidal ideation are the circumstances that lead to them finding each other and eventually falling in love.
That glorification — describing something to “be or seem better than the actual condition”, according to Merriam-Webster— can mislead teenagers to think that mental illness and the emotions that go along with it can be positive in some way. This false positivity can worsen emotional distress or cause a refusal to seek help, especially when it comes to the impressionable nature of teenagers.
From depression to eating disorders and everything in between, one thing is for certain: mental illness isn’t something that should be used for shock value and creators need to keep that in mind.
Mental health has consistently been underrepresented in books, movies and TV shows, so an increase in visibility is a step in the right direction. However, that “representation” must be productive.
From depression to eating disorders and everything in between, one thing is for certain: mental illness isn’t something that should be used for shock value and creators need to keep that in mind.
When attempting to portray mental illness, creators must thoroughly and sensitively research what they’re depicting. Whether this includes consulting certified mental health professionals or making a more conscious effort to consider the impact characterization can have, something needs to change.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder doesn’t make someone self-centered. Depression isn’t meant to be romanticized. Suicidal ideation isn’t the grounds for a relationship to be built upon. Media creators, for the sake of the mental health of teenagers, do what needs to be done.
