5 Times Movies & TV Shows Got Mental Health Representation Right
Last Updated on May 31, 2025 by Manassa Shrikanth
Reviewed by April Justice, LICSW
- Published on 31 May 2025
Have you ever watched a movie or binged a TV show and felt, ‘Yes – that’s exactly what I’m going through’?
It’s a very rare but incredibly validating experience – one that makes us feel less alone in our struggles.
Portrayal of mental health in mass media has always been a tricky terrain to traverse. It’s often filled with stereotypes, prejudice, and stigmatised representations. Many a time, mental health challenges are trivialised, shamed or worse, used as comedic relief.
And so, when we do come across a rare gem that represents mental health the right way and showcases our struggles in a realistic, relatable and empathetic way, it’s that much more special!
Join us as we take a quick look at five such movies and TV shows that gave mental health the kind of representation it deserves.
This Article Contains:
Why ‘Right’ Mental Health Representation Matters
Given how stigmatised mental health already is in our society, the wrong kind of representation can have far-reaching adverse effects.
Here are some negative effects of ‘wrong’ representation of mental health:
- Perpetuates stigma, shame, and public apprehension about mental health issues, therapy, and other forms of support
- Spreads misinformation by oversimplifying or dramatising conditions (eg showcasing bipolar disorder as just extreme mood swings)
- Creates and perpetuates fear and stigma around seeking help by mocking therapy and showing asking for help as a weakness
- Leads to or worsens self-criticism and self-hate in individuals dealing with mental health challenges
- Diminishes or trivialises lived experiences and the extent of struggles by romanticising or portraying mental health issues as edgy or mysterious
- Poses a risk of triggering vulnerable viewers through insensitive or graphic depictions of suicide, self-harm, assault or trauma (without appropriate warnings and nuance)
- Reinforces stereotypes and reduces mental health struggles to tropes like ‘the crazy ex-girlfriend,’ ‘the psychotic villain,’ or ‘the manic genius’
The ‘right’ representation, on the other hand, holds immense power; its positive effects rippling through society and time.
Here’s the case for the ‘right’ side of mental health portrayal in media:
- It normalises and de-stigmatises mental wellness, and encourages open conversations about mental health, therapy and challenges in real life.
- Seeing characters seek therapy or get mental health support can help viewers going through similar struggles do the same.
- Accurate and relatable portrayals of mental health issues can validate personal experiences, making people feel seen and less alone.
- Authentic representation also educates the audience, helping them understand conditions like depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), etc.
- Seeing characters with mental health issues as complex, functioning individuals, with nuanced storylines and an everyday life similar to theirs, can help people replace fear with empathy and understanding.
- Stories of people recovering and healing from mental health conditions or challenges inspire hope.
5 Movies & TV Shows that Portray Relatable Mental Health Storylines
1) Inside Out
Inside Out is a nostalgic embrace that wraps you up in warmth and transports you to a relatable world full of colour!
Told through the story of a young girl named Riley, this animated movie (and its equally fantastic sequel) tells the story of her emotions, offering a fun yet meaningful take on the inner workings of the human mind.
The first part spotlights primary or early-childhood emotions such as joy, sadness, fear and disgust, while the second part adds more complex emotions into the mix – anxiety, embarrassment, envy and ennui.
Inside Out 2’s portrayal of anxiety is perhaps one of the most accurate depictions of the complex emotion. We all felt it deep within when Joy tells Anxiety, “You don’t get to choose who Riley is, Anxiety, you need to let go”.
It teaches us important lessons, such as the fact that all emotions have their role and that no emotion is ‘bad’. Over the course of the two movies, we see Riley learn to create space for all emotions to exist, even difficult ones such as sadness and anxiety.
By representing emotions as characters, Inside Out humanises mental health, making it less scary and a lot more relatable. It’s undoubtedly a movie for children and adults alike.
Issues Represented
Mental health in general, sadness, anxiety & emotional regulation
2) Ginny & Georgia
Ginny & Georgia may start out like your usual family comedy-drama set in the scenic suburbs, but you’ll quickly realise that it’s so much more.
The show brings together witty comedy, excellent screenplay and fantastic acting to tell a story that highlights numerous mental health issues.
Named after its protagonists, the mother-daughter duo – Georgia and Ginny – the show follows their lives after a recent move to Wellsbury, Massachusetts.
Ginny engages in self-harm to cope with anxiety and overwhelm, as well as long-standing trauma from her difficult childhood.
She meets and falls in love with Marcus, her next-door neighbour, who has a mental health journey of his own. He deals with depression and grief after the loss of his best friend. Marcus tells Ginny how therapy helped him through difficult times, and after a while, Ginny, too, reaches out for help.
The show also showcases the struggles of an Eating Disorders (ED) through the storyline of Abby, one of Ginny’s new friends.
The beauty of Ginny and Georgia lies in how sensitively it portrays heavy issues, without being overly graphic or triggering. This one is a gem that is close to the hearts of many.
Issues Represented
Anxiety, depression, self-harm & ED
3) Sex Education
Sex Education is a coming-of-age series that revolves around the lives of the teenage students of Moordale Secondary School. Characters face mental health issues ranging from anxiety and panic attacks to grief and PTSD.
The protagonist’s mother, Jean, is a sex therapist, and through her storyline, we see an accurate representation of sex therapy. We see teenagers come to her about issues like erectile dysfunction and navigating an asexual identity.
The show’s portrayal of Aimee’s experience with sexual assault and PTSD is handled with nuance and care, resonating with many.
Jackson Marchetti is a stellar student and a champion swimmer who struggles with anxiety and panic attacks. His experience speaks to a lot of teenagers who struggle with extreme perfectionism and anxiety.
Sex Education’s representation of mental health challenges, therapy, as well as queerness is authentic, heart-warming and a source of hope and comfort for many.
Issues Represented
Therapy, navigating sexuality, PTSD, anxiety & panic attacks
4) This is Us
Among the hundreds of shows that romanticise stoicism and portray men feeling emotional as ‘weak’, This is Us is a rarity that depicts not one, but several male mental health storylines.
One of the show’s leads, Randall Pearson, is a successful professional who deals with severe panic attacks. This is Us handles Randall’s mental health arc with empathy and sensitivity, showing him lean on loved ones for help.
We also see Kevin (Randall’s brother and another protagonist) struggle with and recover from recurring substance abuse and addiction.
The third main character, Kate (Randall and Kevin’s sister), goes through her own mental health journey – including body image issues, self-love, depression and unhealthy relationships with food. Later in the show, we meet Madison, who goes on to be Kate’s best friend and lives with an eating disorder.
The show also features the trio’s uncle, Nick, who’s a war veteran and takes us through his experience with PTSD.
Throughout the show, we travel with the characters, living their struggles and developing much-needed empathy and acceptance towards mental well-being.
Issues Represented
Panic attacks, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, addictions, ED, body-image issues, grief & PTSD
5) Heartstopper
Heartstopper is a heartwarming webtoon-turned-TV show that follows the budding relationship between two teenage boys, Nick and Charlie.
While the early seasons showcase accurate portrayals of bullying and identity crises (Nick coming to terms with his bisexuality), later seasons explore heavier topics such as anxiety, eating disorders and self-harm.
Through therapy, Charlie gradually understands that he’s dealing with anorexia and OCD. His therapist helps him name the experiences, validate them, understand their roots, and recover slowly.
Nick’s journey as a supportive partner shows us how we, too, can stay present and support a loved one or partner dealing with mental health issues.
Hearstopper also tackles many often-overlooked emotions that mental health issues can cause, such as shame, guilt, anger, denial and confusion.
Issues Represented
Anxiety, ED, navigating identity & sexuality, bullying & OCD
Conclusion
Watching relatable characters from our favourite shows and movies deal with mental health challenges helps normalise them and spread awareness.
In these characters and storylines, we either see ourselves or those we know, and we feel heard, seen and validated. Further still, we live their struggles vicariously, thus cultivating strong empathy and understanding.
Authentic mental health representation is akin to that one friend who always gets you, who says, ‘I see you,’ and offers a warm, comforting and understanding shoulder.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, relationship struggles or wants to explore therapy for personal growth, Therapists at Talk Your Heart Out (TYHO) can help.
Our team of accredited Therapists provides a safe, inclusive, and confidential space to support your mental wellness journey. Get started with TYHO today! 💜
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