TV shows are becoming a part of our daily routine through availability on different platforms to watch, learn, and explore diverse areas around us in a more detailed manner. In TV shows, we see characters through different phases of life, changing, facing difficulties, dealing with daily life events, cultural differences, etc. It feels like we are living with them and it’s a part of our life too. We connect and understand each other and different areas in more depth.
The accurate and sensitive representation for mental health is important as misrepresentation leads to errors in judgment.
The mental health aspects represented through TV shows highlight how everyone experiences ups and downs in life, and how people with mental health issues live their life, the challenges they face, how society treats them, and how other factors like community, religion, politics, and gender impacts them. The depiction of change, growth, and working on self.
The accurate and sensitive representation for mental health is important as misrepresentation leads to errors in judgment. Here are some of the TV shows that represent mental health in a sensitive and accurate light.
Atypical - It highlights autism and how people with autism and their family adjust to change, acceptance along with challenges and struggles faced by them.
Crazy Ex-girlfriend - The show centers around a woman with borderline personality disorder and how it impacts her interpersonal relationships and work and the steps she is taking to work on herself. It highlights professional help, and a recovery journey from acceptance to change.
This is us - It highlights the tragedy and personal struggle of life faced by three siblings that impact them and their families. It shows how they as a family experience tragedy, trauma, and uncertainty in life.
One day at a time - It shows how life is a mixture of both good and difficult times and the importance of our loved ones through every phase of it. Like its title, it highlights the theme of living life one day at a time.
Sex Education - This show is about how teenagers explore gender, sexuality, sex, relationships, and difficulties they face in making sense of the changes around them. It highlights the role of the environment, the influence of parents' lives, social norms, and culture.
The Good Doctor - It highlights the doctor with autism spectrum disorder and how he navigates through his daily life challenges, relationships, and workplace.
Bojack Horseman - It highlights depression, early life trauma, and how it impacts the way we think, feel and make decisions. It uses satire and realistically depicts mental health.
You are the worst - The show highlights depression and how exhausting living with it can be. The treatment is similar to Bojack Horseman and the show has been coming into the limelight for its relatable depiction of what living with a mental illness and navigating through relationships is like.
Big Mouth - The show picked up as a favorite for all the adult animation lovers out there. It is a remarkably written show that centers around the challenges of puberty as we struggle to make sense of the changes our mind and body are undergoing. It also represents anxiety and depression by personifying them which is a clever and relatable depiction of the conditions.
Please like me - It depicts the difficult stage of entering adulthood, explores relationships, sexuality, family issues and change. It also touches upon the sensitive theme of suicide and manages to portray it realistically and accurately.
Schitt's Creek - It shows how a family deals with major changes in their financial condition, depression, anxiety, and tough days. The importance of family strength, community, and social support.
Do you know more TV shows that revolve around the theme of mental health that you have loved? Let us know in the comments!
Written by - Shubhangi Singh
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