There is a lot to be said when discussing the benefits and disadvantages of the media in relation to mental health. Likely because of demand, there is a consistent wave of negative representation and dramatized scenes for the sake of shock value. Many of these TV shows depict mental health and mental illness as taboo, demoralizing or too difficult to treat.
However, there is a lot of research that supports media as a positive, advantageous hobby for teenagers and adults alike. Though the benefits are plenty, there are exceptions and rules to media that are actually helpful for mental health.
In this case, representation matters. The way we represent people and their struggles has a huge impact in how we handle those issues in real life.
A common consensus among researchers is that, for the media to be a benefit for mental health, it must represent widely experienced issues in a positive, healthy way. It is why oftentimes kids’ shows are about overcoming challenges, yet we lose that as media targets an older audience.
Shows like The Backyardigans, Courage the Cowardly Dog, The Winx Club, et cetera were about overcoming evil or obstacles. Murder, assault, and bullying are now for shock value and to draw viewers who are likely going through similar issues. However, if the show does not intend to prioritize the long-term impact they have on their viewers, these scenes are more damaging than good.
Hence, showing sympathy alone from one character to another when experiencing difficult challenges can promote sympathy between viewers. Because TV is such a huge part of our daily lives, it is important that what we watch is of quality; it is important that we view in fiction what we want to occur in real life.
Of course, many shows prioritize view counts over long-term impact on viewers’ mental health, but it is not impossible. Here are some shows that depict mental health in a, honest, uplifting way:
Bojack Horseman has been praised for its raw and emotional depiction of mental health. It deals with substance abuse and depression, as well as relationship conflicts. The main focus of Bojack Horseman is Bojack’s constant crippling depression and his battles with it.
Bojack Horseman’s constant battle with depression is not a singular experience. Millions in the US are diagnosed with depression in a year, and many of these watch TV. Therefore, what we put out there in our media can either uplift or worsen the symptoms for those who struggle with mental illness.
The Queen’s Gambit follows the story of Beth Harmon, a chess prodigy that struggles with mental health issues and addiction. She too struggles with relationships and inner conflict, and the show helps us follow her tumultuous recovery.
Addiction is also not a unique, unseen experience. Millions of Americans struggle with at least one addiction, and fentanyl alone has become a top cause of death among otherwise healthy individuals the past couple years alone. If addiction is handled with sympathy and understanding on TV, it can not only destigmatize addiction among viewers but also encourage kindness.
As we proceed to demand for more representation of marginalized groups and those with mental illnesses, we achieve better representation. It is through this representation that we find ourselves gaining benefits from watching TV; we see role models who can overcome challenges that we might also come across ourselves.
