Helpful representations of mental illness (film/TV/books etc.)

Hi everyone,

I'm pretty new to this community but I have an idea for a thread that might be helpful for some of us. I thought we could post about representations of mental illness in film, TV, books etc. that we have found comfort and truth in. The idea for this post came while responding to a post that was partly discussing the stigma around illnesses such as bipolar, schizophrenia and also around suicidal ideation. So any examples of positive representations of these illnesses (especially from those who live with them) would be very welcome. I am highlighting these illnesses as there is perhaps a bit more misunderstanding around them and I think being able to point to good, accurate representations can be a helpful tool for education. But posts relating to any illness or aspect of mental health are welcome too! I'm interested to hear what good representations you've found.

I'll start with something I saw recently. An episode of the series Modern Love featuring Anne Hathaway as a woman with bipolar disorder. I personally found it helpful (I have bipolar I) although I couldn't relate to aspects of it such as being unable to move in a depressive phase. But the idea of acting like a totally different person when manic was relatable. It was the right amount of lighthearted while not shying away from some of the difficulties of living with the disorder.

Over to you! 🙂