After my first time in a psychiatric hospital, I was always curious to know and understand as much as possible about what it means to have and live with a mental illness, to see other people or characters who are going or have gone through something similar, to be able to find comfort in the fact that I am not the only one who is facing such conditions, especially in a society where this subject has always been taboo.
The desire to see myself represented in books, on TV or in movies has never gone away and I don’t think it should. The curiosity of seeing characters living with mental illness accurately portrayed was a way for me to accept the fact that I have a mental illness. These representations matter a lot, both for those living with mental illness and for those who do not.
Mental illness should no longer be used as a tool of intrigue. Portrayals of mental illness in movies or TV shows were often used to create stories for villains. The social stigma surrounding mental illness, such as schizophrenia, PTSD or bipolar disorder, often stems from inaccurate representations in the media. What’s most tragic about these portrayals is their contribution to a cultural attitude of stigmatization, misunderstanding and fear, beliefs and perceptions that are totally erroneous and have nothing to do with reality.
For these reasons, I think it is very important to have main characters and stories that expose real stories and descriptions of mental disorders. In my quest to find such resources, I discovered 3 shows on Netflix that, in my personal experience, do a great job of exposing the lives of people with various mental illnesses:
1. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend – borderline personality disorder (BPD)
BPD is a disorder characterized by rapid mood swings, extreme fear of abandonment, unstable self-identity, self-destructive behaviors and anxiety. A media representation of these behaviors is the protagonist of the comedy series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
The plot revolves around Rebecca Bunch, played by Rachel Bloom, a smart, attractive and successful lawyer who gives up her near-perfect life in New York to impulsively pursue her high school sweetheart.
The series depicts her dysfunctional relationship with her parents, her struggle with anxiety and depression, as well as the romantic relationships surrounding them. What’s more, the final season of the show depicts how Rebecca finally gets the right diagnosis and starts going to therapy.
The title alludes to the way the main character’s limitations and actions are often described as ‘crazy’ and the story aims to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness, particularly borderline personality disorder.
2. Atypical – autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Atypical is a comedy series starring Sam, an 18-year-old high school student diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD), a developmental disorder characterized by restricted, repetitive behaviors and deficits in social interaction.
The series depicts the clinical symptoms of this disorder through Sam’s recurrent anxiety attacks in the context of his sister’s transfer to another school, sensory overload, and rejection by his peers.
People with autism are usually described as having an interest in areas related to math or science, so it is refreshing to see Sam find joy in an artistic and creative activity, illustration. This relaxing hobby, used repeatedly to cope with his anxiety, evolves into a real talent.
Ultimately, Atypical shows that people with autism can achieve a high level of independence, even without caregiver supervision. This can be possible when patients on the autistic spectrum use psychosocial resources, such as professional help (psychologist, psychiatrist), peer support, etc. Thus, in the show, Sam discovers his strength and receives both emotional and practical support during his college application.
It should be noted that this show has its limitations – Sam is depicted as a very high-functioning autistic character, he is not on psychotropic medication and has no other comorbidities. Thus, the message this show wants to convey may not resonate with patients on the more severe end of the spectrum.
Nevertheless, Atypical is a noteworthy show that strives to convey accurate and thoughtful portrayals of people with autism, incorporating voices from the autistic community and bringing in ASD counselors and actors into the production.
3. Spinning Out – bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression
‘Spinning Out’ stars Kat Baker, an Olympic skater whose confidence in her skating ability is diminished after an accident during a competition.
In addition to PTSD and depression, this show focuses on bipolar disorder, which is rarely portrayed in entertainment. On the rare occasions we encounter it, the depiction is misrepresented or over-dramatized. This series, instead, shows the normality of a life lived by characters who have mental illnesses and presents the full spectrum of symptoms of bipolar disorder throughout the episodes.
Contrary to popular belief, although bipolar disorder is defined by separate manic and depressive episodes, it is common for people suffering from the condition to have mixed episodes, with both manic and depressive symptoms present, which is reflected in Kat’s actions. She struggles with bipolar disorder, inherited from her mother, Carol, and, amid severe bouts of depression and mixed episodes, she strives to find her balance and not give up her passion for skating.
I think the show represents mental disorders in a quite authentic way, while also showing how they can affect one’s relationship with family and friends. While the show’s name makes a clear reference to “spinning” – spinning on the ice, it also symbolizes the loss of control experienced by bipolar people when they go through a manic episode.
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The portrayal of mental health conditions in the media is extremely important as it helps to understand and recognize these illnesses as clearly as possible, and in this way builds empathy and compassion towards people with a diagnosis. For those who are dealing with various mental illnesses, I think it is a very beneficial way of accepting the illness, normalizing and integrating it into everyday life. The more we talk about these issues and the more we encounter them, the more prejudice and stigma associated with mental illness will disappear.
For me these shows have been extremely healing. I no longer felt lonely and I got the courage to accept my mental disorder and look at it with new eyes, I found comfort and understanding and everything became much easier.
So I think you too will be entertained by a musical comedy like Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, the family series Atypical will relax you and Spinning Out will introduce you to the fascinating world of figure skating. Enjoy!
