Portrayals of mental illness in film are often superficial, stigmatizing, and inaccurate. Mental disorders are something that are already in risky territory from people’s inability to understand that they are as normal as any physical injury that occurs in one’s body. While some movies and shows depict a jarringly real and relatable version of a disorder others just tend to over exaggerate and portray a romanticised version of an illness. Films in general hold the power to destigmatize and possibly normalise mental illnesses and mental health in general. One of the most prevalent stereotypes of mentally ill people exacerbated by film is that such individuals are violent. Despite weak evidence linking mental illness with violence, research shows that a large percentage of children and adults see mentally ill people as violent, dangerous, and unpredictable . Misconceptions about the violent tendencies of the mentally ill increase discrimination towards such individuals. While there have been innumerous accounts of mental illness being used as a plotline here are some of the good as well as bad representations of mental illness in mainstream media. THE GOOD The Aviator The Aviator tells the story of the early adult life of Howard Hughes, the notoriously eccentric and talented billionaire. Hughes was a driven and often successful aeronautical engineer, filmmaker, and lady’s man in Hollywood of the 1920s-1940s. Among other issues, Hughes appears to have been affected by OCD symptoms that at times were severe and incapacitating, although for much of the period of his life depicted in the film he functions relatively well. The director, Martin Scorcese, was at pains to depict Hughes’ life realistically, so that even when his behavior in the film seems odd or atypical, it was based on Hughes’ real-life symptoms. The depiction of his symptoms at their most severe is quite accurate, including the appearance of his “safe” room. The film does a great job, overall, in accurately depicting difficulties in day to day life with OCD. Karthik Calling Karthik This psychological thriller, starring Farhan Akhtar and Deepika Padukone, tells the tale of an introvert suffering from schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder. The protagonist Karthik is threatened by mysterious phone calls every night, which later are revealed to be his own pre-recorded voice messages. His lover, played by Padukone, refuses to succumb to the stereotyped fear of being around schizophrenics and not only helps Karthik with the treatment but also keeps her relationship with him alive. The film reiterates the need for loving and caring for those battling this incurable disease. Dear Zindagi Dear Zindagi, the story of an urban middle-class female suffering from depression, carefully brings scenes one by one where lifestyle adversities and flashbacks of childhood isolation put the protagonist into depression. The movie then advances by breaking stereotypical thoughts prevalent about patients with mental illness and the therapists. The movie is the first of its kind, which has correctly shown the therapeutic relationship between the mental health professional and the patient. A therapist, as a facilitator of the therapeutic process, comforts the client in a nondirective way rather than by giving advice or instructions. THE BAD Split M. Night Shyamalan's Split is as divided as its main antagonist’s mental state. Shyamalan is said to have consulted doctors about the reality of Dissociative Personality Disorder before making the film, but the terrifying way it’s represented suggests he didn’t take much of their commentary seriously. The movie focuses on Kevin (James McAvoy) and his abduction of three young girls. He interacts with them as different personalities (he is 23). The audiences primarily see 4 (Dennis, Patricia, Hedwig, and Barry), but eventually "The Beast" (a dangerous amalgamation) appears, pure cinematic fiction, and the graphic nature of his violence paints people with DID in a horrific light. Fatal Attraction Fatal Attraction forever cemented the distorted image the public has regarding Borderline Personality Disorder. In the movie, Glenn Close’s character Alex Forrest becomes increasingly disturbed and unpredictable after Michael Douglas’s character Dan Gallagher breaks off the affair that he is having with her. While it's true, those with BPD can be highly emotionally reactive and express anger inappropriately, their symptoms are rarely like anything seen in Alex Forrest, who boils her lovers' pet on the stove, pours acid on his car, and threatens the lives of his family. The Visit In this movie, mental illness is just used as a trope to scare teen audiences without a hint of accuracy. The filmmakers didn’t take into account the cognitive impairments that come with severe psychiatric illnesses. While it might be a terrifying cinematic thrill to be trapped in the middle of nowhere with escaped patients from a psychiatric hospital, the chances that they could pull off a murderous scheme is unlikely. - Chaitanya Nair
References :
https://www.rtor.org/2015/10/27/6-movies/
https://mghocd.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/The-Aviator.pdf
https://screenrant.com/movie-character-inaccurate-mental-illness-portrayals/
https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/sites/default/files/sections/GlobalEngagementConference/WolffJessy_5.25.20.pdf