By Leaf Staff Writer Naomi Dunford https://xxnaomi.com
Considering 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. have mental health issues, you’d expect television to include accurate portrayals of what those issues are like for the people who are experiencing them. Unfortunately, for the most part, they don’t.
Mental health and mental illness are frequently used as plot devices meant to reduce a character down to one dimension, or to provide a reason for why a villain does what they do. But mental health is far more complex than that, and over the decades television writers have presented a wildly inaccurate picture of what these issues are actually like, fueling stigma and misunderstanding.
Fortunately, television has been taking a turn for the better, with more shows coming out every year that tackle the topics of specific mental health issues in a more realistic way.
These shows have begun to break down the stigma of both the issues themselves and the act of seeking treatment, and have opened the door to a more public acknowledgement of the challenges that so many of face navigating life.
Here are 8 television shows that we think got the details right, giving all of us a clearer window in which to see the world of mental health.
Bojack Horseman
There may not be many animated series willing to take on tough mental health topics, but BoJack Horseman is definitely one of them. Watching BoJack’s internal monologue – often harsh and self-critical – is a little cringe-worthy in itself, but provides an amazing mirror into the mind of an average person (well, horse) struggling to live his life in the grip of depression.
Series creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg didn’t’ set out to create a show about mental illness, but said, “I think it was more about just trying to write this character truthfully, and taking him seriously.” The series has received positive reviews from fans who are grateful for the realistic portrayal of a condition that’s been stigmatized for far too long.
One Day At A Time
The recent reboot of this 70’s show features Penelope Alvarez, a nurse (and military veteran) working through her struggles with PTSD, depression, panic attacks and anxiety issues. It’s also noteworthy for bringing all this to bear through a Latinx family, helping break the stigma present in that and other communities.
Praised for its true-to-life treatment of the challenges of dealing with therapy and medication – and what happens when she discontinues both, One Day At A Time tackles the ups and downs of coming to terms with mental health issues in a personal and relatable way.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
With a name like Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, one might expect main character Rebecca Bunch to be portrayed in a wholly negative light – yet this series shows the complexities of character that are typical of anyone dealing with mental health issues. Shying away from stereotypes, the writers of this show create a believable – if not always likeable – main character.
Rebecca’s battles with OCD, anxiety and, of course, fixation on her ex, create a backdrop for a character who is neither victim nor villain, and offers viewers a chance to empathize with the difficulties of living a life that feels largely out of control. From moments of high drama to realistic portrayals of ambivalence towards therapy, this show gives you a peek inside what it’s really like to live with these particular challenges.
The Big Bang Theory
Arguably one of the most popular series in recent television history, The Big Bang Theory features an ensemble cast that includes breakout character Sheldon Cooper, a brilliant physicist with undiagnosed Asperger’s Syndrome and OCD. (Technically, the character is never formally diagnosed, but fits the profile for both conditions.)
This show was a pioneer in bringing these mental health issues into the mainstream and showing that a character with a significant mental health issue could still function in day-to-day situations, develop relationships, and live a fulfilling and ultimately satisfying life.
Jessica Jones
A gritty and often violent superhero show, Jessica Jones chronicles the struggles of a protagonist strongly affected by PTSD. The show’s premise (superhero turned private investigator) is certainly a larger-than-life backdrop, but in the midst of it we’re offered a glimpse into some of the challenges of coping with PTSD. This series pulls no punches, and shows exactly how severely PTSD can feel for the people suffering from it.
Struggling with addiction, and avoiding therapy, Jones does the best she can to get by while doing her best to rise above the trauma that affects every arena of her life. While her coping behaviors aren’t the heathiest approach to her condition, the show does serve as a good demonstration for why PTSD sufferers often have difficulties seeking out the help they need.
This Is Us
Wildly popular for its gripping storylines and sympathetic characters, This Is Us has always been a show that revolves around the mental health struggles of its characters with poignant, unyielding attention to detail. With a host of characters experiencing their own unique issues, this show sets the bar for bringing mental health into the spotlight.
Rarely has there been a show that has kindled so many conversations about mental health and relationships, and has also shone a much-needed spotlight on the less-discussed topic of men’s mental health. Whether it’s Toby’s depressive episodes, Randall’s crippling anxiety, or the addiction challenges faced by Kevin and Jack, we’re taken into the heart of the struggle that every sufferer faces, and through them, we see our own struggles, too.
You’re The Worst
You’re The Worst was a show that consistently and repeatedly portrayed the behaviors and effects of mental health issues realistically in a way that few other shows have. From Gretchen’s depression to Edward’s PTSD to Jimmy’s narcissism, every character’s struggle demonstrated the challenges face not only by them, but the people whose lives they affected.
Filled with a mix of ridiculous comedic moments as well as unhappy endings, this show chronicles a cast of characters who, while not always succeeding, are continually looking for ways to improve the state of their lives in the midst of their issues. In a world filled with Hollywood endings, where everything gets neatly tied up at the end, the show acknowledges the reality that some people do continue to go through their life without solving their mental health challenges.
Girls
Credited with bringing the experience of her own journey with OCD into the writing this show, actress Lena Dunham began the work of de-stigmatizing this mental health issue by creating Hanna, a character we could care about. Viewed as the most realistic portrayal of OCD of its time, storylines included details like the worries of Hanna’s parents, her struggles with her therapy, career stress and more.
Hanna’s struggles to manage her OCD also helped break the common misconception that people with OCD are purposefully meticulous, and that anxiety is at the root of this condition. Rather than falling on the typical stereotype of OCD characters being eccentric or strange, this show reveals the more realistic struggle that sufferers face – trying to pass as “normal” as best they can.