It seems in recent years that mental health awareness has become society’s new topic to fixate on, where many people are comfortable with sharing their visits to a therapist, ways they manage their mental illnesses, and even signs to look out for that might point to a certain condition. When I put the word “mental illness” into Google Books’ Ngram viewer, one can see that the word was practically non-existent until the 1920s. Then it spiked in popularity in the 1930s and 1940s, during the same period as the Great Depression. Right now, the use of the word has steadily increased from 2020 to 2022, since the global pandemic of COVID-19. But it’s not just books that have increased the usage of terminology addressing this phenomenon; many types of media, including social media, television, music, and more, have indirectly caused and harmed those with mental illness.

On the surface level, it seems wonderful that more people are starting to talk about mental illness, getting rid of the stigma surrounding it and helping people get the service they need. But are these forms of media, like movies and TV shows, actually more harmful than helpful? These pieces of media are known to represent mental illness inaccurately, therefore contributing to the stigma surrounding mental health. In addition to the false portrayal of mental illness, the depiction of mental conditions, even if done with the right intention to spread awareness, can increase the prevalence of that mental illness in impressionable teenagers. Lastly, the issue of romanticization, whether by the media that companies are publishing or by the reaction from loyal fans, can take something from being stigmatized to desired, which dangerously impacts people’s perception of mental illness.

To start with, an example of the inaccurate portrayal of mental illness in modern media is Split, a film featuring James McAvoy as Kevin, a man with (Dissociative Identity Disorder) who has 23 different alters. In the movie, he is displayed as a clear villain since one of his alters, Dennis, drugs and abducts three girls while developing another distinctive alter known as “The Beast,” who is apparently incredibly dangerous to the girls. The Center for Disability Rights, have claimed that Split is another film that “demonizes” people with mental health disabilities. Specifically, the issue with the film's portrayal of DID is that in the movie, the disorder is seen as the reason Dennis is inflicting violence on the girls when in reality, DID is usually a response to traumatic events that a person’s brain cannot process, leading to the creation of another identity to protect themselves. The Center for Disability Rights says that “those with DID need love, understanding, and empathy, but instead they will receive suspicion, fear and even downright contempt because of films like Split.”

Yet the inaccurate portrayals in television do not end there. One of the most problematic TV shows associated with mental health is Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why. The series, based on a book by the same title, displays the suicide of a teenage girl, Hannah Baker, after recording 13 audiotapes blaming multiple people for the reason she decided to take her own life. Producers of the show were often criticized for its portrayal of an unrealistic “revenge” mentality when it came to her death, as well as for a very graphic scene of her suicide found in the last episode of season one which was only edited in 2019, more than two years after its release.

There has been a huge debate in research to examine if the series has actually impacted and specifically increased suicide rates among adolescents. Certain research found positives associated with the show, for example, a reduction in suicide stigma and a greater chance for viewers to discuss mental health with others and to seek help. However, multiple studies have been reported to show higher suicide mortality, higher medical admissions for suicide reasons, and a higher interest in suicide in the network after the series was released. One study in particular, released in 2019 by Nationwide Children’s Hospital found a 28.9% increase in suicides in April 2017, less than a month after the show was released.

Do the positives really outweigh arguably the most serious “negative” in our society: death? While the show has been seen as a source that helps reduce the stigma around mental illness, it has also contributed to a different yet still harmful approach to mental illness through its romanticization.

Generation Z, in particular, has been most affected by the “glorification” of mental illness, viewing it as a status symbol with a certain “creative mystique” associated with it. Another film that deals with complex themes surrounding suicide is The Virgin Suicides. The film, directed by Sofia Coppola and released in 1999, was based on a book with the same name. It follows a group of men looking back at their experiences with the Lisbon sisters, who all kill themselves at the end of the film. The film is intentionally told from a male perspective, romanticizing the girls as beautiful and mystifying, further emphasized by the hazy filter to evoke a sense of nostalgia. The film displays these boys as never having really loved or cared about the sisters but rather was only obsessed with the idea of them. The portrayal of depression and suicide in this film is purposely presented through the lens of romanticization to display the objectification of girls.

However, the real issue is the responses of the film's fans. Teenage girls see it as a “craze.” Pinterest and Instagram are full of screen captures of the film paired with “aesthetic” quotes from the movie, and plenty of edits roam TikTok. Adolescents have done the exact same thing the movie tried to signify was harmful. The response of people further displays the idea of having mental illness as “seductive.” The romanticization of films like The Virgin Suicides can be dangerous as it allows people not to take illnesses like depression very seriously and even assume people are lying when others say that they have the disorder.

Instead of blaming the creator of this “romanticized” content, the blame falls upon the consumer, who further contributes to the toxic trope of “the misunderstood protagonist.” However, one can argue that it’s not really the audience's fault when people with influence have been subtly pushing this harmful narrative all along. Popular singer Lana Del Ray has always been controversial due to people interpreting her lyrics to glamorize depression, death, and unhealthy relationships. In a previous Guardian interview, she says, “I wish I was dead already” and agreed to a question asking if she saw early death like those of Amy Winehouse and Kurt Cobain as “glamorous.”

The problem continues when applied to social media as well. One survey discovered that 30% of Gen Z have self-diagnosed mental illnesses, with the most common diseases being anxiety and depression. This idea of self-diagnosing can be dangerous as people are relying on aspects like social media to give out important information, like treatment solutions, for example, instead of gaining this information through professional psychological help.

To be fully honest, I do not know what the proper solution is to these problematic displays of mental illness in the media. I do not think that mental illness should be entirely removed from all types of media, as that would be a blatant and excessive use of censorship that would present a facade of a picture-perfect life. Mental illness shouldn't be a taboo topic that prevents people from getting the help they need. There are definitely steps that should be taken by the companies and people publishing media surrounding mental illness to protect vulnerable people, for example, trigger warnings at the beginning of episodes. However, at the end of the day, how a person decides to perceive mental illness depends on the content they consume. Whether reading, listening, or watching, people must be conscious of what they hear or see and how they react. Music, movies, books: they’re all forms of art. These art forms allow creators to express every part of themselves and shouldn't be hidden. Yet, whether stigmatized or romanticized, people should be aware of their role in shaping the perception of mental illness.