Examining Mental Health Portrayals in Movies - Psychological Concepts in Film

Examining the Portrayal of Mental Health in Popular Films

Mental health issues have long been stigmatized in society. However, in recent years, more open and honest discussions about topics like depression, anxiety, addiction, and other psychological conditions have become more commonplace. Though there is still progress to be made in erasing the shame and misunderstanding surrounding mental illness, popular media has begun reflecting more nuanced and thoughtful portrayals of psychological concepts and experiences.

Movies can be an impactful medium for increasing awareness and empathy for those facing mental health challenges. When done thoughtfully, films provide a window into the lives and struggles of people with various psychological conditions. They show how mental illness can affect someones life, relationships, and ability to function. While not all movies get it right, there are a number that strive to accurately depict mental health issues in all their complexity.

Portrayals of Anxiety and Trauma

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental illnesses, affecting over 40 million adults in America alone. Generalized anxiety, social anxiety, phobias, OCD, PTSD, and panic disorders all fall under the umbrella of anxiety issues. Though the symptoms and severity differ, they all involve excessive, uncontrollable worry and fear.

Movies like The Aviator (2004) showcase the paralyzing impact of OCD and phobias on billionaire Howard Hughes. Hughes, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, struggles with intrusive thoughts, repetitive counting, and debilitating phobias that increasingly isolate him. Similarly, in As Good as it Gets (1997), Jack Nicholsons character suffers from OCD rituals and behaviors that make him unable to connect with people.

For trauma-related anxiety, Moonlight (2016) provides insight into how childhood abuse and neglect affect people later in life. Growing up with a drug-addicted mother, the main character Chiron struggles with feelings of unworthiness, anger, and hypervigilance. The film sensitively examines how early trauma shapes his view of himself and relationships.

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder comprise the deadliest class of mental illnesses. They affect millions of teens and young adults, predominantly girls and women. These conditions stem from body image issues, a desire for control, trauma, genetics, and other complex factors.

In To the Bone (2017), Lily Collins gives an emotional performance as Ellen, a young woman receiving treatment for anorexia. It provides an empathetic inside look at the relentless obsessiveness of disordered eating, its roots in family dynamics, and how tough recovering can be. Sharp Objects (2018) also depicts a young woman freshly out of rehab for multiple disorders still wrestling with urges to restrict food intake and purge.

Substance Abuse and Addiction

Whether it be alcohol, illicit drugs, or prescription medications, addiction devastates lives, health, and relationships. Though it is now understood as a disease of the brain more than a moral failing, those suffering from addiction still face stigma. However, movies are playing a role in revealing the anguish underneath the stereotypes.

Flight (2012) looks at the functioning alcoholism of an airline pilot played by Denzel Washington. After a plane crash he miraculously survives, his previously hidden addiction comes to light. The film presents alcoholism as a complex disease made worse by past trauma. Similarly, Ben is Back (2018) tackles the opioid epidemic through the story of a teenage boy in recovery who comes home for Christmas, plunging his family back into the chaos of his addiction.

Depression

One of the most misunderstood mental health conditions, depression impairs mood, energy, concentration, sleep, and everyday functioning. It often occurs alongside other diagnoses like anxiety, PTSD, or addiction. Depicting the true anguish of depressive disorders authentically helps counter the just cheer up misconceptions surrounding them.

The film Melancholia (2011) conveys the hopeless mindset and lethargy of severe depression through its apocalyptic sci-fi drama. Kirsten Dunsts character wanders aimlessly in a wedding gown as a rogue planet hurtles toward Earth. It serves as a poetic metaphor for her all-consuming inner despair. In Silver Linings Playbook (2012), Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence give outstanding performances as two troubled strangers who find connection and solace in one another while battling mood disorders.

Personality Disorders

Personality disorders represent ingrained, inflexible patterns of relating to others and oneself. They manifest in behaviors like manipulation, volatility, attention-seeking, or avoidance. Borderline, narcissistic, antisocial, and paranoid disorders fall under this category. These conditions often stem from childhood abuse, neglect, or trauma.

In the chilling psychological thriller Gone Girl (2014), Rosamund Pike plays a sociopath who frames her husband for murder. She connives and deceives in Machiavellian fashion, using her manipulative charms to escape accountability. Her character illustrates the cunning impulsivity of Antisocial Personality Disorder. Similarly, Black Swan (2010) provides an unsettling depiction of Borderline Personality Disorder through Natalie Portmans unhinged ballerina obsessed with perfection and constantly on the verge of breakdown.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Previously known as Multiple Personality Disorder, Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) represents a complex, severe condition rooted in extreme childhood trauma. Those with DID develop alternate identities or alters as a protective defense mechanism. Switching between these distinct personalities and memory gaps often occur.

The unsettling psychological horror film Split (2016) sought to accurately portray DID while taking creative license with the thriller elements of the plot. James McAvoy transitions between several distinct personalities of his character Kevin, who suffers from 23 alter egos due to childhood abuse. Critically acclaimed for its nuanced depiction of DID, Split highlights the vulnerability and fragmentation of identity those with DID endure.

Schizophrenia

One of the most stigmatized and misunderstood conditions, schizophrenia is actually a complex spectrum of disorders marked by psychosis, hallucinations, delusions, and impaired cognition. Often emerging in the late teens and 20s, schizophrenia remains shrouded in judgment and misinformation.

Darren Aronofskys psychological drama Pi (1998) paints a vivid descent into madness through its gifted, paranoid protagonist on the hunt for an elusive mathematical code. The surreal, paranoid world the film inhabits evokes the terror and confusion of psychosis. In a very different take, A Beautiful Mind (2001) traces the real-life story of brilliant mathematician John Nash as he grapples with frightening hallucinations and delusional thinking. It provides insight into how such a condition affects relationships and sanity.

The Value of Nuanced Portrayals

Though not without flaws, films exploring mental health struggles through an empathetic, humanistic lens help destigmatize such conditions. They reveal the inner anguish and battles behind the diagnostic labels. Mental illness does not discriminate, affecting people across all walks of life.

Moving away from damaging tropes of the violent psycho or babbling lunatic, modern films attempt to show the person behind the illness. They present the symptoms of psychological disorders as byproducts of trauma, grief, loss, and other complex human experiences. No condition defines someone entirely.

While increased understanding and compassion for mental health struggles remains necessary, movies that tell these stories truthfully provide a powerful platform. They open minds, prompt discussion, and encourage those suffering silently to seek help. By giving a voice to peoples inner pain, films build crucial bridges of understanding at a time when mental health awareness matters more than ever.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.