Series About Mental Health: 13 Great Series About Mental Health
Here in this article, we are going to discuss about the 13 Great Series About Mental Health. These series talk about mental health without taboos and from other perspectives that will give you something to think about. That there are more and more series about mental health is not a coincidence. Depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder affect more and more people, making their daily lives and the search for happiness difficult. However, these issues remain stigmatized, preventing many affected people from seeking help or even talking about how dark they feel inside.
13 Great Series About Mental Health
Remarkable is that entertainment creates – more frequently – role models with whom people with mental disorders can identify, and even more so, who tell inspiring and moving stories about the fight against these diseases. Unlike many films that use mental illness to deliver spectacular plot twists (A Beautiful Mind, Twilight, or Identity, to name a few), the 13 series on our list address mental illness in complex and authentic ways, showing that a happy ending is also possible for those who suffer from them.
Mr. Robot
Long before winning the Oscar for Best Actor for Bohemian Rhapsody, Rami Malek demonstrated his acting quality in this cyber-noir thriller. In the series he plays Elliot, a schizophrenic computer genius who initially fights the world’s injustices as a hacktivist until he is recruited by the anarchist terrorist group fsociety. However, it is the moments when Elliot is alone in his apartment, dealing with panic attacks and depressive episodes, that remain in the memory after the credits roll. Could someone please hug this boy at least once?
Atypical
Sam, a teenager about to graduate, has never had sex and now wants to change that. At first glance, the fact that Sam has autism seems to complicate this goal, as he communicates, thinks, and feels differently than most people in his environment, and is overwhelmed by physical contact. But upon looking closer, the viewer quickly realizes that there is no such thing as a typical adolescence or a normal romance and that it is never easy to take responsibility for yourself and your life, even if you are born with a brain. “Typical”.
Never Have I Ever
The sudden death of her beloved father has deeply traumatized Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan). Instead of facing her pain, the teenage student distracts herself by trying to win over the popular boy at school, Paxton (Darren Barnet), despite her normally being shy. Time and time again, this moving comedy-drama from Mindy Kaling (The Office) surprises us with highly emotional moments and reminds us that even beneath a seemingly cheerful exterior she can hide a sick mind.
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
In South Korea, the topic of mental health is even more taboo than elsewhere. Therefore, it is not trivial that this K-Drama advocates for greater acceptance of mental illness. When Moon Gang-tae’s (Kim Soo-hyun) mother was murdered, he was just a little boy; His autistic older brother, Sang-tae (Oh Jung-se), witnessed it all and was deeply disturbed ever since. Twenty years after that tragic event, the orphans return to his hometown, where Gang-tae begins to work as a nurse in a psychiatric clinic.
When his path crosses that of antisocial children’s book author Ko Moon-young (Seo Yea-ji), they slowly begin to heal each other’s emotional wounds. This Korean Netflix series not only manages to represent in a deep and complex way the burden that people with mental illness carry, but by setting the story in the context of a sanatorium, it portrays the characters as members of a large community rather than social outcasts.
Skins
For young talents like Nicholas Hoult (X-Men: First Class), Dev Patel (I Want to Be a Millionaire), Jack O’Connell (Unbreakable), and Kaya Scodelario (The Maze Runner), this British teen drama was a springboard for their careers. The series follows a group of Bristol teenagers over five seasons. Depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and psychosis are serious personal problems that Tony, Effy, and their friends try to suppress with drugs and sexual escapades.
Lady Dynamite
After spending half a year in treatment for bipolar disorder, stand-up comedian Maria Bamford is back at it. The story is based on Bamford’s real experiences and yes, it is one of those mental health series that you cannot miss.
Euphoria
Sparkly eyeshadow, sparkling rhinestones, deep red lipstick, and unforgettable outfits: teens Rue (Zendaya), Maddy (Alexa Demie), Jules (Hunter Schaefer), and Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) can’t hide how dark it is inside Nonetheless. They and their classmates are exposed to drug addiction, violence, sexual and emotional abuse, depression, insecurity, and fear. Because the series addressed the daily problems of a generation that feels lost and alone in a serious way and told its stories in a moving, but not moralizing, way, this series with tough and raw themes was very well received, especially among teenagers and young adults.
Spinning Out
Fainting, self-mutilation, and manic episodes are just some of the intense symptoms that figure skater Kat Baker (Kaya Scodelario from Skins) struggles with due to her bipolar disorder; However, to train at the highest level, she refuses to take her medication. Her mother (January Jones), who also suffers from the disease, is overwhelmed by Kat and prefers to focus on her younger sister (Willow Shields), who is considered a great talent by the local sports club. The short-lived Netflix series combines a touching family drama with a tender love story between rivals, adding elegance and sporting emotion to the whole. In particular, Jones and Scodelario’s performances leave a lasting impression.
Wandavision
As the first of Marvel’s long-awaited Disney+ series, Wandavision left viewers reflecting. When we last saw the supernaturally gifted Wanda aka Scarlett Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) in Avengers: Endgame, the woman was grieving the death of her beloved Vision (Paul Bettany). Now, however, it appears the couple have found a happy ending in the American suburb. But the idyllic life in the neighborhood is deceptive: what begins as a 1950s comedy quickly becomes a moving drama that unreservedly addresses grief and loss. The original narrative structure and constantly disturbing atmosphere especially highlight the shocking consequences that a traumatic experience can have on the psyche.
One Day at a Time
This Netflix series is a remake of the American sitcom of the same name from the 1970s and 1980s. It centers on the Cuban-American Álvarez family: grandmother Lydia (Rita Moreno), mother Penélope (Justina Machado), and her children: Elena (Isabella Gómez) and Alex (Marcel Ruiz). Although the series provokes many laughs, at the same time it addresses a sensitive and urgent topic: the veteran Penelope fights against depression, for which she undergoes group therapy.
Normal People
Loneliness, family conflicts, and – above all – a heartbreaking love story are the pillars of this emotional adaptation of Sally Rooney’s novel. The plot follows young Irish people Connell (Paul Mescal) and Marianne (Daisy Edgar Jones) from the end of their school years in the small town of Sligo to the end of their studies at Trinity College Dublin. Although the couple communicates openly and honestly, sometimes in surprisingly intimate ways, their relationship breaks down again and again due to emotional wounds from their past. Mescal and Jones, with their vulnerable portrayals, offer a memorable portrait of the reality of life for young people in our time.
BoJack Horseman
This adult cartoon tells the story of BoJack Horseman, a former television star, half-human, half-horse, who is past his professional prime. Not only is it an excellent Hollywood satire, but the series also seriously addresses the issue of mental health: BoJack is a narcissistic, alcoholic, and depressed guy who tries to straighten out his life, but always takes two steps forward and one step back, and you don’t need a clinical diagnosis to find yourself in this dilemma.
The Queen’s Gambit
In the 1950s, orphan Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) dreamed of becoming the best chess player in the world. However, on her way to the top of the tournament world, her exceptional talent faces not only gender bias, but also depression, addictions, and her typically antisocial behavior. The miniseries is an adaptation of the novel of the same name The Queen’s Gambit by Walter Tevis, published in 1983.
