It seems that the media has been exploring the topic of mental illness recently. I’d like to start by saying that I am glad we are finally using major media platforms to discuss the issue of mental health in the United States. This is a growing issue, especially among young people, and the conversation surrounding it is long overdue.
That being said, we need to do it in a way that portrays those who are suffering from a mental illness in a true and respectful way and does not romanticize having it.
I had high hopes when Netflix released both "13 Reasons Why," a series dealing with sexual assault and teen suicide, and "To The Bone," a movie about a young woman struggling with anorexia.
Both received high criticism for their incredibly graphic and potentially triggering scenes of self-harm and suicide. When I watched these, what was equally disturbing was the simplified and romanticized way they portrayed these mental illnesses.
I have struggled with anxiety and depression and have several close friends who have struggled with eating disorders their entire life. Nothing about these illnesses are beautiful or romantic. They are ugly and disturbing.
The reality of mental illness may not be something that can fully be captured in entertainment media, but writers and producers working today can make great improvements in the way mental illness is represented in television and movies.
In "13 Reasons Why," a main plot line is the tragic love story between the main character, Hannah Baker, and Clay Jensen. After Hannah’s suicide, Clay is left to decipher thirteen tapes revealing the reasons, or rather the people, that led her to take her own life. In a series of failed friendships and instances of abuse, Hannah narrates every incident that led to her death. After reviewing the tapes, Clay struggles to accept that there may have been something that he could have done to prevent her death, maybe by simply confessing his feelings for Hannah.
This is dangerous to the public’s understanding of mental illnesses and their causes. Depression and anxiety, which may tragically lead to suicide, cannot be simplified into an entertaining plot line. The reality of these illnesses reveal complex and intertwined causes. Hannah’s experience with bullying and sexual assault do contribute to her mental illness, but these severe circumstances are not the only reasons that mental illness can occur.
Chemical imbalances in the brain and long-term stress are just some of the ways mental illness can manifest. While these causes do not make for a particularly entertaining plot line, it is important to instill an understanding that nothing particularly tragic has to happen for someone to become anxious or depressed.
"To The Bone" is a movie that explores eating disorders. The problem I saw with this film was with casting Lily Collins to serve as an example of anorexia. Collins has struggled with her body image and eating disorders in the past, so it seemed reasonable to have her play the main character, Ellen. While even though she acted realistically vulnerable, her casting may lead to an understanding that naturally thin women are the only ones that can suffer from eating disorders and that skinny is the ideal vision of beauty.
Women across all sizes, races, sexualities and socioeconomic statuses can suffer from a variety of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating disorders. The plot line of a beautiful and privileged woman, though accurate in many situations, does not accurately reflect the vast problem of eating disorders in this country. In addition, Ellen’s romance with a fellow patient at her treatment facility only further romanticizes having an eating disorder.
Documentaries would be a better way to approach using television and movies to talk about mental illnesses. Though uncomfortable and ugly, the true reality of mental illness must be revealed in order to understand the diverse and complex reasons behind it.
People must understand that mental illness does not look like it does in dramatic movie storylines, but that it actually looks like everyday people. Their classmates, roommates, friends and family may be showing subtle signs of mental illness that are not outlined in the Hollywood productions. Though the effort to uncover the pain behind mental illness is appreciated, we must continue to critique the way entertainment does so.
If you feel that you are in immediate crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
If you are struggling with an eating disorder, reach out to the National Eating Disorders Association Information and Referral Helpline at 1-800-931-2237.